Who was sanctioned, and for what?

The Shanghai company of the Stuttgart-based Exyte group caused around 884 US items (flowmeters, pressure transmitters, controllers) worth around 2.85 million USD to be delivered by Chinese suppliers to SMIC Beijing, which is on the Entity List (the US export control list of restricted parties), on 13 occasions in 2021/22. According to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS, the export control agency of the US Department of Commerce), the compliance programme did not recognise that in-country transfers within China also require a licence; Exyte voluntarily disclosed the transactions and admitted them.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Export control and dual-use goods

Legal basis

Export Administration Regulations, 15 C.F.R. § 764.2(b), § 744.11

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Construction and real estate

Culpability

negligent

Mitigating circumstances

Voluntary self-disclosure, own investigation with external lawyers and investment in the compliance programme.

Published

7 Jan 2026

Original amount 1,500,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 7 Jan 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Direct link

OFAC has imposed a penalty of USD 7,139,305 on New York property management company Gracetown, Inc. by way of a Penalty Notice. According to OFAC's findings, between April 2018 and May 2020 Gracetown received 24 payments on behalf of an affiliated company owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch, although OFAC had previously given it explicit notice of the prohibition. Gracetown also failed to report the blocked property to OFAC for more than 45 months. OFAC regarded the violations as wilful or at least reckless, egregious and not voluntarily self-disclosed; the base penalty equalled the statutory maximum of USD 8,906,358. OFAC's publication does not state whether Gracetown has paid the penalty or challenged it in court. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), enforcement release "OFAC Imposes $7,139,305 Penalty on Gracetown, Inc. for Violating Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions and Reporting Obligations", 4 December 2025, https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/934796/download?inline; summarised in our own words.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes

Legal basis

Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. § 589.201; Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations, 31 C.F.R. § 501.603 (Sperrmeldung); Penalty Notice nach den Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines, 31 C.F.R. part 501, app. A

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Construction and real estate

Published

4 Dec 2025

Original amount 7,139,305 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 4 Dec 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

The Dallas-based supplier of countertops allegedly declared Chinese quartz surface products between 2018 and 2023 as goods subject to lower duties, such as marble or crystallised glass, and evaded anti-dumping and countervailing duties, including by using third parties as importers of record. The settlement of 12.4 million USD (a joint payment with a further settling party) resolves a whistleblower lawsuit.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, und U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Texas

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Customs

Legal basis

False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 ff. (Vergleich; Haftung nicht festgestellt)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Construction and real estate

Liability of senior managers

Measures against individuals are not reported here.

Published

19 Aug 2025

Original amount 12,400,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 19 Aug 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

The Californian importer of multilayered wood flooring allegedly provided false information on the manufacturer and country of origin from 2019 to 2022, thereby evading anti-dumping, countervailing and Section 301 duties on Chinese goods. The settlement of 8.1 million USD is a joint payment by all settling parties and is based on the ability to pay.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, und U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District of California

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Customs

Legal basis

False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 ff. (Vergleich; Haftung nicht festgestellt)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Construction and real estate

Mitigating circumstances

Settlement amount based on the ability to pay of the settling parties.

Liability of senior managers

Measures against individuals are not reported here.

Published

25 Mar 2025

Original amount 8,100,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 25 Mar 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

Miami real estate company Family International Realty LLC is paying USD 1,076,923 jointly with a further settling party under a settlement with OFAC (joint payment) for 73 apparent violations of the Ukraine-/Russia-related sanctions. According to OFAC's findings, between 2018 and 2023 the company, in a wilful evasion scheme, transferred nominal ownership of three luxury condominiums belonging to two sanctioned Russian oligarchs to non-sanctioned relatives and their shell companies and continued to rent them out; the company earned around USD 182,442 in commissions and reimbursements. OFAC treated the apparent violations as egregious and not voluntarily self-disclosed; the base penalty equalled the statutory maximum of USD 30,080,709. USD 182,442 is deemed satisfied by a forfeiture payment to the DOJ. Source: OFAC enforcement release of 16 January 2025, https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/933941/download?inline; summarised in our own words.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes

Legal basis

E.O. 13685 §§ 2(a), 5(a), 6(a) (73 mutmaßliche Verstöße); Vergleich nach den Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines, 31 C.F.R. part 501, app. A

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Construction and real estate

Liability of senior managers

Measures against individuals are not reported here.

Published

16 Jan 2025

Original amount 1,076,923 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 16 Jan 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 5 · Direct link