2 Firms Indicted for Exporting Computer-Related Equip to Iran via UAE
On April 21, 2011, the Justice Department announced that three individuals and two companies were indicted on charges of illegally exporting millions of dollars worth of computer-related equipment from the U.S. to Iran via the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
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Defendants Exported Computer Equip to Iran Without a License
Jeng Shih and his New York company, Sunrise Technologies and Trading Company (Sunrise Technologies), Massoud Habibion, Mohsen Motamedian and their California company, Online Micro LLC, were indicted for illegally exporting computer-related equipment to Iran without first having obtained the required license from the Treasury Department.
ICE Identified UAE Company Buying Millions Worth of Laptops for Export to Iran
In April 2010, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) agents seized hundreds of laptop computers that originated from Sunrise Technologies and were destined for the UAE. ICE HSI agents subsequently identified the UAE company that was purchasing millions of dollars of computers from U.S. companies for export to Iran.
The ICE HSI agents arrested one individual from the UAE company, who pleaded guilty in December 2010 and began cooperating with the government. In interviews with ICE HSI agents, the individual indicated he and his UAE company had purchased an average of $700,000 worth of computers each month from Sunrise Technologies, and an average of $300,000 worth of computers each month from Online Micro.
Defendants Told UAE Co. How to Use Fake Invoices When Shipping Goods to Iran
In December 2010, the cooperating individual from the UAE company met with Habibion and Motamedian of Online Micro, and in February 2011 with Shih of Sunrise Technologies. The cooperating individual was allegedly told how to avoid detection when shipping goods to Iran by using fake invoices indicating that the end-users were in UAE. In a January 2011, meeting, Habibion also told the cooperating individual to lie to federal agents about conducting business in Iran.
If Convicted, Defendants Could Face Max Sentence of 20 Yrs in Prison
If convicted, each defendant could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine for each of the counts violating the IEEPA. Shih was indicted on 27 counts violating the IEEPA and Habibion and Motamedian with on 14 counts.