Vinson & Elkins Partner Fry Wernick spoke with Reuters about the responsibility of exporters to make reasonable attempts to check that they aren’t contracting with an entity sanctioned by the US government.
Reuters released a report about a U.S. fuel trader’s alleged business ties to a Mexican criminal cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Wernick explained that U.S. exporters must maintain vigilance after the CJNG and five other Mexican cartels landed on the U.S. list of designated foreign terrorist organizations in February 2025, because U.S. prosecutors now have more leeway to go after any parties suspected of providing cartels with material support.
“You’re not allowed to stick your head in the sand,” said Wernick.
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Fry Wernick is a partner in Vinson & Elkins’ Government Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense practice group. He advises clients on high-stakes government inquiries and compliance issues, drawing on experience in antitrust, congressional investigations, and crisis management.
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