Scot Charged in Libya Shipment Freed on Bond

A Scottish businessman, who had been in custody since January on charges involving the illegal shipment of oil-drilling equipment to Libya, has been ordered released on $600,000 bond.

U.S. District Judge Rudi M. Brewster granted the release of Francis George Christie after a hearing Thursday.

Christie, 51, pleaded guilty in August to a single charge of conspiracy in connection with the shipment of oil field equipment to Libya during a U.S. trade embargo with the Middle Eastern country.

Negotiated Bargain

The Scot entered his plea under a negotiated bargain that calls for him to testify as a prosecution witness in the trial of a Louisiana couple who were his alleged partners in the illegal shipping scheme. The trial of the couple, George and Cheryl Smith, is set to begin Nov. 3.

Federal prosecutors say that the Smiths used their Gretna, La., company--Oil Patch Production Services Inc.--to obtain oil field equipment from Solar Turbines Inc. in San Diego. The Smiths allegedly shipped the equipment to Christie’s firm in Scotland, which in turn sold it to a state-owned company in Libya.

Christie is scheduled to be sentenced on the conspiracy charge on Nov. 16, Assistant U.S. Atty. Philip L. Halpern said. He could face a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a fine of $250,000.

In posting bail, Christie signed a $500,000 personal surety release bond, backed by his own assets. His brother and a friend posted the remaining $100,000.

There were no travel restrictions imposed on Christie, and he was expected to return to his family in Aberdeen, Scotland, pending his upcoming testimony.