From 2009 to 2011, Usama Hamade conspired to export drone components to a foreign terrorist organization.

According to the Department of Justice, the drone parts and technology were sent to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Usama and his older brother, Issam, were arrested in South Africa in February 2018 and extradited to the U.S.

In May 2020, the 55-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiring to export inertial measurement units, digital compasses, piston engines, recording binoculars and a jet engine without proper licenses.

On July 20, 2020, a Minnesota judge sentenced Usama Hamade to 42 months in prison.

Usama's brother, Issam pleaded guilty in March, facing up to five years in prison for his role as a co-conspirator.

As of September 2019, a third co-conspirator, Samir Berro, remained at large.

According to The National, Samir Berro facilitated the shipments from the U.S. to Lebanon via his Dubai-based company, SAB Aerospace.

By: DocMemory
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