Scot to Stand Trial in Libyan Embargo Case
SAN DIEGO — A federal magistrate in New Orleans on Friday ordered a Scottish businessman held without bond on charges that he violated a U.S. trade embargo by helping to supply Libya with crucial oil field equipment.
Francis George Christie, of Aberdeen, Scotland, will be transferred in 10 days to San Diego, where he will be among the first to stand trial for breaking the embargo imposed by President Reagan last February. Also charged with Christie were George and Cheryl Smith of Gretna, La., operators of Oil Patch Production Services Inc.
The three were arrested Thursday, culminating a six-month undercover operation that had a U.S. Customs agent posing as an oil equipment salesman for Solar Turbines Inc. of San Diego.
Oil Equipment Shipped
During the investigation, the Smiths used their company to purchase $250,000 worth of oil equipment for Christie, owner of Christie Noble Services Inc. The equipment was shipped to Libya through England, Assistant U.S. Atty. Phillip L. B. Halpern said.
Eventually, the undercover agent was able to lure Christie to the United States--and his eventual arrest--by promising the sale of between $5 million and $7 million worth of equipment.
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