Venezuelan Air Force Colonel Sentenced for Illegal Export of Aircraft Engines
Venezuelan Air Force Colonel Guiseppe Menegazzo-Carrasquel was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison for conspiring to export military aircraft engines to Venezuela in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to court documents, Menegazzo-Carrasquel was part of a Venezuelan air force team that “negotiated with Mesa-based Marsh Aviation between November 2005 and February 2008 to refurbish 18 T-76 aircraft engines,” which are designed for the OV-10 Bronco Aircraft. The negotiations took place “under the guise that the engines were intended for civilian use” when they were actually meant for the Venezuelan air force team, ICE said.
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Menegazzo-Carrasquel, a dual Venezuelan and Italian citizen, was arrested by ICE agents on September 2012 upon arriving in Houston on a flight from Caracas. In addition to the prison term, Menegazzo-Carrasquel will be subject to three years of supervision. Former president of Marsh Aviation Floyd Stillwell was also charged in the scheme, and was sentenced to a $250,000 fine and five years of probation on May 13.