Iranian man pleads guilty to illegal aviation exports

Iranian national Mansour Moghtaderi Zadeh pleaded guilty Thursday to taking part in a conspiracy involving the purchase and shipment of aviation parts and supplies from the United States to Iran without an export license.    The U.S. Justice Department said Iranian national Mansour Moghtaderi Zadeh pleaded guilty Thursday to taking part in a conspiracy involving the purchase and shipment of aviation parts and supplies from the United States to Iran without an export license.
   Specifically, Zadeh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to illegally export goods, technology and services to Iran without the required license and to defraud the United States. The charge carries a maximum of five years in jail and other financial penalties.
   Under federal sentencing guidelines, Zadeh faces a  jail sentence of up to 57 months and a potential fine of up to $200,000. Federal Judge Paul L. Friedman scheduled sentencing for Dec.14.
   According to court documents, Zadeh acknowledged that starting in October 2005, he was asked by Iranian companies via his company, Barsan Aero Chemicals, to purchase products, such as a fiber optic video transmitter and receiver, and aviation course indicators, which required an export license from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The conspirators arranged for the items to be shipped from the United States to Iran, and Zadeh received a commission.
   In March 2007, Zadeh and his co-conspirators attempted to export metal sheets and rods that are used in aviation manufacturing industry from the United States to Iran, again without the required OFAC license. Zadeh’s then new corporation, Lavantia Ltd., bought the items. In September 2007, the shipment was detained by the Commerce Department pending certification of the end user, the Justice Department said.
   In October 2007, Commerce issued a Temporary Denial Order (TDO) against Lavantia and Zadeh. The TDO prohibited Lavantia and Zadeh from participating, directly or indirectly, in any way in any transaction involving any commodity exported from the United States.
   “Notwithstanding the TDO, Zadeh and other conspirators exported and attempted to export numerous materials from the U.S., including resin, sealant, paint, pneumatic grease, film adhesive and polyurethane coating and thinner. Their conduct after the TDO was issued involved more than $69,000 of exported goods,” the Justice Department said.