[CRIMES] Export Horror Stories – When Compliance Gets Scary

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shales
Guest: Josh Rodman, Attorney at Schulz Trade Law
Published: October 29, 2025
Presented by: Global Training Center
Length: 28 minutes

Episode Summary

In this Halloween Week special, the Simply Trade hosts dig into real-life trade horror stories that will make any exporter’s blood run cold.

Attorney Josh Rodman from Schulz Trade Law joins Lalo and Andy to share two spine-chilling case studies where export compliance went sideways — despite good intentions. From ballistic helmets misclassified under the wrong ECCN to shipments to Russia caught in the tangled web of ever-changing export controls, this episode proves that in trade, even honest mistakes can summon costly consequences.

Josh explains how voluntary self-disclosures (VSDs) can save a company from financial nightmares and why staying current with export regulations is critical to avoid getting haunted by unexpected investigations or penalties.

This episode blends legal insight with cautionary tales — perfect for your Halloween listening lineup!

Key Topics

• Real-world export control “horror stories”

• Misclassification of military equipment under ECCNs

• Voluntary Self-Disclosures (VSDs) and how they mitigate penalties

• OFAC subpoenas and overlapping U.S. government investigations

• Russian sanctions, HTS code–based restrictions, and transshipment red flags

• How exporters can protect themselves through due diligence and expert review

Resources & Mentions

• Schulz Trade Law

• Export Administration Regulations (EAR)

• OFAC – U.S. Treasury Sanctions Programs

• U.S. Department of Commerce – BIS

• Global Training Center

🎧 Credits

Hosts:

• Lalo Solorzano

• Andy Shiles

Guests:

• Josh Rodman - Schulz Trade Law

Producer:

• Lalo Solorzano

📢 Subscribe & Follow

Stay up to date with Simply Trade — the podcast that makes international trade easy to understand (and sometimes spooky 👻).

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• YouTube

• Global Training Center LinkedIn

• Join the Trade Geeks Community