An Iranian citizen and resident has been indicted in federal court in Washington, D.C., on charges of illegally exporting and attempting to export specialized metals from the U.S. through companies in Turkey to Iran, including some firms involved in the production of ballistic missiles.
The 11-count indictment, unsealed Tuesday, named Milad Jafari, 36, on charges of conspiracy to illegally export materials to Iran and to defraud the United States, five counts of illegal export and attempted illegal export of materials to Iran, and five counts of smuggling.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $177,867 in connection with these offenses.
Mr. Jafari, who remains at large and is believed to be in Iran, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, 20 years in prison for each count of illegal exports to Iran, and 10 years in prison for each smuggling count.
“The allegations in the indictment unsealed today shed light on the reach of Iran’s illegal procurement networks and the importance of keeping U.S. materials from being exploited for Iran’s weapons development,” said Assistant Attorney General David Kris, who heads the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who helped bring about these charges.”
According to the indictment, from February 2004 through August 2007, Mr. Jafari conspired to defraud the United States and to cause the export of goods to Iran in violation of the U.S. embargo and without the required U.S. government export licenses. In carrying out the conspiracy, the indictment said, Mr. Jafari and others solicited orders from customers in Iran and purchased goods from U.S. companies on behalf of the Iranian customers.
The indictment said Mr. Jafari and others wired money to the U.S. companies as payment, concealed from them the end-use and end-users of the goods, and caused the goods to be shipped to Turkey and later to Iran. It said Mr. Jafari operated separate businesses — Macpar Makina San. Ve Ticaret A.S. and Standart Teknik Parca San. Ve Ticaret A.S. — out of offices in Istanbul and Tehran.
According to the indictment, Iranian companies sanctioned by the U.S. and the United Nations for involvement in nuclear and missile activities received from the Jafari-controlled firms 660 pounds of a specialized steel welding wire with aerospace applications from a Nevada company; 3,410 pounds of precipitation-hardening steel from Ohio; 4,410 pounds of high-grade, temperature resistant, stainless steel known to have aerospace applications from Ohio; 3 kilograms of custom-made brazing alloy from California; 1,366 pounds of commercial bronze bars from Illinois; and electronic testing equipment from Illinois.
“Shutting down the illegal acquisition of material destined for use in weapons programs is among the highest priorities in the FBI,” said Sean Joyce, executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “We’ll continue to pursue illegal acquisition efforts and protect our nation from the grave threat these WMD-related activities pose to our national security.”
Also on Tuesday, the Treasury Department designated Mr. Jafari, several of his family members and associates, and several corporate entities in Iran and Turkey, under Executive Order 13382, which targets for sanctions proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. The action isolates them from the U.S. financial and commercial systems.
According to the Treasury Department, Mr. Jafari and his associates operated a procurement network that provided direct support to Iran’s missile program by securing metal products, including steel and aluminum alloys, for subordinates of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization.
• Jerry Seper can be reached at jseper@washingtontimes.com.
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