SEVEN INDICTED IN ILLEGAL EXPORTS IN IRAN

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06591694
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: December 7, 2016
• Case Number: F-2016-02185
• Publication Date: October 26, 1995

Approved for Release: 2016/11/28 C06591694
26-Oct-95 18:41 711, BC-IRAN-USA-INDICTMENTS411
Seven indicted in illegal exports to Iran
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct 26 (Reuter) - Seven people have been in-
dicted in an alleged conspiracy to export sensitive electronics
equipment to Iran, the Justice Department said on Thursday.
"The shipment of sensitive military radios, scramblers and
decoders to a rogue state such as Iran is a serious threat to na-
tional security," said Edmund Sargus, U.S. Attorney for Ohio's
southern district.
The seven indicted include two Iranian-born U.S. citizens and
an official of the Iranian Defence Ministry. If convicted the de-
fendants could face millions of dollars in fines and long prison
terms, Sargus said.
Only the two Iranian-Americans are in the United States,
Sargus said. The others live either in Iran, which does not have
an extradition treaty with the United States, or the United Arab
Emirates.
The two U.S. citizens were released from custody after
surrendering their passports, Sargus said.
Two trading companies based in Tehran and the United Arab
Emirates were also indicted.
"The U.S. Customs Service considers this case to be among the
most significant export enforcement investigations in the country
in recent years," said Craig Ziegler, resident agent in charge of
the Customs Service.
The indictments charge that between 1991 and 1994, about
$500,000 in electronics, communication equipment, computers and
other items were exported without an export license, Sargus said.
Radio encryption devices, which can be used to scramble in-
telligence messages, were of special concern, Sargus told
Reuters.
Federal law prohibits any export of some items due to their
military sensitivity, and the National Defence Authorisation Act
of 1992 specifically prohibits shipment to Iran of any of the
items involved.
The 43-count indictment contains charges of conspiracy, money
laundering, fraud and illegal exporting and seeks forfeiture of
cash and property, Sargus said.
Charged were Elham Abrishami, 42, and Mohsen Abrishami, 42, a
married couple who live in Dublin, a Columbus suburb; Behrouz Do-
latzadeh, an official with the Iranian Defence Ministry in
Tehran; Mohammed Salehizadeh, Hassan Gholan Ali Fallah and Ali
Derakhshan, all of Tehran, and Jimsheed Khodagholipour of
Hanofeel General Trading Est., a United Arab Emirates company,
Sargus said.
Hanofeel and Tak Neda Co. Ltd. of Tehran were the companies
indicted, Sargus said.
The indictments charge that through the trading companies,
the defendants shipped the items to the United Arab Emirates and
from there to Iran, Sargus said.
The indictments also charge that with an unnamed co-
conspirator, the U.S. couple had invoices and statements related
to the exports altered. The indictments also charge that money to
buy the equipment was wired from Iranian banks into accounts in
the U.S. controlled by the Abrishamis.
REUTER
Approved for Release: 2016/11/28 C06591694