Iranian National Extradited to US to Face Export Control Charges
An Iranian national was extradited to the U.S. from the U.K. on charges related to his alleged role in a scheme to evade U.S. export controls by shipping electronic testing technology to Iran, DOJ announced. Saeid Haji Agha Mousaei made his initial appearance in an Illinois U.S. District Court on July 22, where he faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., smuggling goods from the U.S., wire fraud and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
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From 2014 to 2018, Mousaei is alleged to have managed the Dubai-based Millennium Product Company and allegedly took part in a scheme to obtain dual-use electronics, "including signals equipment like oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers," to ship to Iran, DOJ said. Millennium Product Company, along with individuals Julie Pasion and Faramarz Paiezi, are listed as co-defendants in the lawsuit.
Mousaei and the three co-defendants are charged with falsely representing to U.S. distributors that the goods were destined for countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Armenia, and not Iran. Instead, the goods were allegedly transshipped from the UAE to Iran, DOJ said.
The agency said the Bureau of Industry and Security, along with the FBI, is investigating the case.