Two Men Guilty of Exporting Aircraft Parts to Iran
On December 3, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky announced that Hamid Asefi, a citizen of Iran, and Behzad Karimian, a US citizen in Louisville, pleaded guilty to the unlawful export of aircraft and aircraft parts to Iran.
The men were charged with conspiring to violate and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Karimian was employed as a Mesaba Airlines pilot, and Asefi was the principal officer of Aster Corp Ltd in Iran and the United Kingdom. From August 2007 to April 2011, Asefi used the office in the United Kingdom as a place to ship the goods from the United States instead of trying to ship the goods directly to Iran. Karimian made inquiries with Asefi, placed orders, and attempted to purchase aircraft parts in the United States to be shipped to Asefi.
The men violated the Iran embargo when they corresponded and outlined terms of the delivery and payment system in the future. Asefi was noted saying: “. . . .remember that, only U.S. Embargo has brought this chance and benefit to us, to get involved in these deals. . . .”
The men also violated the Iran embargo after a G.E. Aircraft Engine Model CF6-50C2 and Bell Helicopters were exported from the United States and eventually delivered to Iran. The U.S. Department of Treasury was never notified.
The two men face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000 on each count.
U.S. Attorney David J. Hale stated: “The investigation and prosecution of national security cases is the top priority of the Department of Justice and my office. We view the circumvention of Iranian export control laws as a very serious matter. The FBI should be commended for its excellent work in disrupting this international scheme and bringing these men to justice.”
A trade embargo was imposed against Iran on May 6, 1995 because of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The Department of Treasury placed sanctions against Iran Air because they provided material support and services to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
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