A man with ties to Massachusetts has been charged with conspiring to illegally export U.S. goods, technology, and services to end-users in Iran, including the government of Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to a statement from federal officials.
Kambiz Attar Kashani, 44, a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, was arrested Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, according to the statement.
The arrest was announced by Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Joseph R. Bonavolanta, special agent-in-charge of the FBI’s Boston field office.
“Kashani’s arrest underscores the unrelenting resolve of this office and the Department of Justice to prosecute those who seek to profit by compromising our national security,” Peace said.
Peace alleged that Kashani orchestrated an elaborate scheme to evade federal export laws and use the U.S. financial system in procuring U.S. electronic equipment and technology for the Central Bank of Iran, which has been designated by the federal government as acting for or on behalf of terrorist organizations, according to the statement.
According to officials, Kashani allegedly used two United Arab Emirates companies as fronts to procure items from multiple U.S. technology companies, including a company in Massachusetts.
“We believe Mr. Kashani profited financially by strengthening the economy of one of the world’s most infamous state sponsors of terrorism, while circumventing critical U.S. laws designed to protect our national security interests,” Bonavolonta said.
As set forth in the complaint, according to the statement, Kashani conspired to illegally export goods and technology to the Central Bank of Iran.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has classified CBI as a Specially Designated National (SDN) signifying that CBI is acting for or on behalf of a terrorist organization, according to officials.
Source: Boston