Ross Roggio and Roggio Consulting Co., LLC
Context
Ongoing proceedings in Pennsylvania against former United States contractor for torture, criminal conspiracy, money laundering, wire fraud and illegal export of goods to Iraq. Ross Roggio is only the second US citizen, and fourth person overall, to be charged under the federaltorturestatutesinceitwent into effect in 1994.
Type of jurisdiction
Active personality
Suspects
Ross Roggio, US citizen; Roggio Consulting Company, LLC
Country of residence of suspects
USA
Charges
Thirty-nine count indictment including torture and conspiracy to commit torture; money laundering; wire fraud; illegal export of goods
Current status
Indicted; detained; awaiting trial
Facts
Roggio owns and operates Roggio Consulting Company, LLC. In 2015, Roggio and Roggio Consulting Company, LLC allegedly conspired to illegally export items and defense services from the US to Iraq, including M4 Bol Gas Rings MIL, Firing Pin Retainers, and Rifling Combo Buttons. Roggio allegedly failed to obtain the requisite licensing or written approval from the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of State.
In addition, Roggio and his firm allegedly committed wire fraud by providing false information about end users when purchasing items from a US company. The items were then allegedly sent to Iraq where the parts were utilized to manufacture firearms at a plant constructed and operated in part by Roggio. Throughout this process, Roggio also allegedly laundered money from Iraq to bank accounts in Pennsylvania.
In addition, according to the indictment, when one of Roggio’s employees raised concerns about the weapons production project in Kurdistan, Roggio ordered Kurdish soldiers to abduct and detain the employee at a Kurdish military compound for approximately thirty- nine days. While the employee was detained, Roggio allegedly led a series of interrogation sessions where he wrapped his belt around the employee’s neck and yanked the employee off the ground, which led the employee to lose consciousness. Roggio also reportedly directed Kurdish soldiers to suffocate the employee with a plastic bag, shock the employee with a taser, beat the employee with rubber hoses, threaten to cut off the employee’s finger and force the employee to run barefoot over sharp gravel. Throughout the time the employee was detained at the military compound, Roggio also repeatedly told the employee they might not make it out of the military compound alive. The indictment further alleges that Roggio brought other employees to the military compound to intimidate them and force them to watch as the employee was tortured.
Procedure
On 20 March 2018, a thirty-seven count indictment was issued charging Roggio and Roggio Consulting Company, LLC with criminal conspiracy, money laundering, wire fraud and illegal export of goods.
On 23 March 2018, Roggio pled not guilty and was arrested. He subsequently sought to have his detention order revoked, which was denied by the judge.
DEVELOPMENTS IN 2022
In February 2022, a superseding indictment was issued also charging Roggio with torture and conspiracy to commit torture against one of his employees in violation of Title 18, U.S.C §2340, 2340A(c), 2340A(a) and 2.
