Dimitri Beix, a 28-year-old citizen of both the Dominican Republic and France residing in Dominica, pleaded guilty on Aug. 5 in Hartford federal court to an offense related to his involvement in illegally trafficking firearms and firearm components from the United States to Dominica.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Beix led a scheme between January 2021 and September 2024 that involved smuggling firearms, components, and ammunition from the U.S. to Dominica without obtaining required licenses or authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Authorities said Beix used a network of suppliers, buyers, and shippers based in Connecticut and elsewhere across the country. He provided lists of firearm parts for purchase via eBay and other retailers to his U.S.-based suppliers; he also purchased more than 100 firearm parts himself using his own eBay accounts, shipping them to individuals within the United States before they were sent on to him in Dominica.
In February 2023, authorities in Dominica intercepted three parcels shipped from the United States addressed to Beix containing six handguns as well as Glock slides, trigger assemblies, sight assemblies, rifle magazines, pistol magazines, AM15 rifle parts, a suppressor kit, ammunition, and other firearm components. Beix pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act; this offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Beix has been detained since November 27, 2024, after being arrested in Sint Maarten at the request of U.S. authorities; he was extradited back to the United States in February 2026. The investigation is being conducted by several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Industry and Security at the Department of Commerce, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), with assistance from HSI Caribbean as well as law enforcement agencies within Dominica.
The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Sean P. Mahard along with Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section; significant assistance was provided by Sint Maarten authorities for arresting Beix overseas as well as by staff at the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for securing extradition.
This case falls under efforts coordinated by Homeland Security Task Force New Haven—partnerships among multiple federal agencies focused on dismantling criminal cartels operating domestically or abroad—as established under Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut serves all residents throughout Connecticut by prosecuting federal crimes—including those involving firearms—and handling civil cases on behalf of government entities within its jurisdiction while employing approximately 68 assistant attorneys plus support staff members, according to the official website.