IL Man Sent Gun Parts To Israel Disguised As George Foreman Grills, Auto Parts

CHICAGO —A Palos Hills man has pleaded guilty to federal export control charges for illegally shipping firearm parts to Israel.

Amin Betuni, 37, admitted in a plea agreement to shipping firearm parts to parties in Israel on at least three occasions in 2022 — including rifle barrels, gas blocks for rifles, and bolt carrier groups. Federal agents allege that Betuni put false information on the shipping labels and concealed firearm parts in boxes for auto parts or George Foreman grills. The firearm parts were subject to federal export regulations, which required a license or written approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

While executing a search warrant of Betuni’s Palos Hills residence in December 2022, law enforcement discovered more than 1,200 rounds of assorted ammunition, a shotgun, rifle and handgun, additional bolt carrier groups and three fire armed conversion devices, also known as “Glock switches,” which enable to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.

During their investigation, agents from the Department of Homeland Security came across Betuni’s Apple iCloud account. The federal complaint alleges that law enforcement found numerous photos saved between 2017 and 2018 of what appeared to be Betuni and a young child posing with various rifles equipped with drum magazines. There were also pictures and video of Betuni with rifles with silencers, and photos of Glocks with auto-rear switches enabling the firearms to function as a machine gun. Agents also found instructions on how to install a switch on a Glock.

Around July 23, 2021, agents also found a text message exchange from a man identified as “Individual 1” in the complaint, asking for a switch.

“I need a switch asap, bro,” and “Can you get it for me,” the messages read.

Agents said Betuni texted “Individual 2,” instructing the person to bring one Glock switch and to leave it in Individual 1’s mailbox. Later that evening, just after 10 p.m., Individual 1 texted Betuni: “I got it. Thank-you, cuz.” To which Betuni responded: “No problem,” according to the complaint.

Agents also searched Betuni’s residence when he was not home in December 2022, and found $20,000 in cash, approximately 28 pounds of marijuana that was vacuum sealed in approximate one-pound quantities, a silencer and silencer components, a Glock Model 26 pistol, a maverick Arms Model 88 12-gauge shotgun, a SIG Sauer Model M400 rifle, several large capacity drum magazines, bulk quantities of ammunition, and three Glock auto-sear switches. Three suspected Glock auto-sear switches were found in a Band-Aid box in his closet, the feds said.

In July 2023, Betuni put up his home in the 10300 block of South 73rd Street in Palos Hills to secure his release. Betuni agreed to upkeep on the property and turned over a quit claim deed to the U.S. court.

Betuni pleaded guilty on Aug. 1 to a federal charge of knowingly and fraudulently exporting firearm parts in violation of U.S. laws and regulations. The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness set sentencing for Nov. 6.