GEORGIA – A federal judge sentenced Robert J. Shubert Sr., 49, from Warner Robins, Georgia to six years and six months in prison for having more than 80 pipe bombs and selling defense articles that were going to a foreign nation, federal officials announced last week.
U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell sentenced Shubert after he plead guilty to one count each of conspiracy to violate and violation of the Arms Export Control Act as well as one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, officials said.
Judge Treadwell was not persuaded by Shubert’s statements of remorse, sentencing him the maximum allowed under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Michael Moore maintained that Shubert was out to make a buck so he ignored the law.
“Robert J. Shubert showed a total disregard for the laws of the United States of America and the potential harm the defense articles he exported could pose to others. He allowed his personal enrichment to guide his conscience. The possession of more than eighty pipe bombs at the time of his arrest is equally disturbing to the Government, ” said Moore.
The Court also imposed a fine of $15,000.00 and ordered forfeiture of $147,892.00, officials said.
The Court prohibited Shubert from leaving the U.S. and ordered his passport be surrendered to the State Department, officials said.
From June 2006 to December 2011, an investigation indicated that Shubert conspired with a foreign national to export defense articles to a foreign nation without the proper authority or license, officials said. He purchased the defense articles from legitimate distributors and shipped them to a foreign nation at a considerable profit, officials said.
To facilitate the scheme he also prepared false documents regarding the contents to be exported to his foreign co-conspirator. These acts formed the basis of the Arms Export Control Act violations, authorities said.
While executing search warrants on houses owned by Shubert in Georgia and Wisconsin, officials found more than 80 pipe bombs.