NY Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Export Carbon Fiber to Iran
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York has announced that Richard Phillips pleaded guilty on January 18, 2012 to attempting to export carbon fiber to Iran in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. When sentenced, Phillips faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
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Knowingly Exported Carbon Fiber to Iran Despite Trade Embargo
According to the pleadings and other court filings by the government, between October 5, 2011 and October 24, 2011, Phillips offered his service and expertise in exporting a spool of carbon fiber to Tehran, Iran, via the Philippines, in direct contravention of the United States trade embargo against Iran. The two main applications of carbon fiber are in specialized technology, including aerospace and nuclear engineering, and in general engineering and transportation.
In a recorded telephone conversation with an undercover agent, Phillips was warned that the export of the carbon fiber to Iran was illegal under the trade embargo. In a subsequent recorded conversation Phillips stated that he knew what the rules were, but would disregard them.
Addressed Shipping Container to Philippines to be Forwarded to Iran
After a series of recorded telephone calls, email exchanges and meetings with undercover agents, on October 21, 2011, Phillips took possession of a spool of carbon fiber, which was placed into a shipping container, and affixed a label to the container addressed to the Philippines, where it was to be forwarded to Iran.