I appreciate all the information on this thread. I was the lucky recipient of a certified "RFI" letter from the Dept of Treas yesterday. I have done a bit of web-research and mostly seems like it is a fishing expedition on the part of the OFAC. I have also spoken to a close friend who got the same letter in September of 2006. Our "transactions in question" according to the letters were in 2004 & 2005. He had an attorney draft a response and sent that response in early October of 2005 and has not heard back since. On my instincts and his advice I hired an attorney today to do just the same. My response will be - of course the truth - that I have no knowledge, records nor information and I have done nothing wrong regarding this letter and to contact my attorney with any further requests/actions.
I will update the form with any further information/actions in my case or any that I have first hand knowledge of.
Is there anyone out there that has first hand knowledge of a letter and what has happened? I have read a lot of others guessing and references from OFAC website, which, don't get me wrong is interesting, but seems to be a lack of people who are involved actually keeping us up to date.
Also, I don't care to debate with anyone whether I have or have not done anything wrong or whether I would again if I had. I am not here to be judged or get legal advice (I will get that from my attorney). I am glad to share information though.
Thanks to (most) all in this thread for the information.
- Mike
Mike,
Thank you for sharing this information. It is perhaps understandable that individuals who have received the R-Letter would be mum on the proceedings. There is nothing but uncertainty, fear, and doubt surrounding this issue. Since it seems like there is no "safe" place to discuss specifics and actions in detail away from the potentially watching eyes of OFAC, people have chosen to keep mum. For the most part. You are one of only two cases of which I know that the affected individual has made his plans and actions public.
Here is a summary of the other person's case to date:
October 2006 - Received R-Letter claiming 2 purchases (no dollar amounts) from HK region spread out over 2005
Recipient decided to not respond.
December 2006 - Received Prepenalty Notice claiming 3 purchases from HK region for $250, $420, $500 and that the preliminary fine would be $1,170, which could be negotiated or disputed via letter or hearing.
February 2007 - Recipient responded, admitting to 2 purchases of under $250 each and proposing a negotiated settlement of $500.
March 2007 - No response from OFAC yet.
Wilkey