Thread: FEDS ARREST IRANIANS FOR EXPORTATION OF WEAPONS

http://www.montanasnews.com/articles.ph ... ew&id=2055

FEDS ARREST IRANIANS FOR EXPORTATION OF WEAPONS, AND MONEY LAUNDERING
by MNA PRESS

by Jim Kouri, CPP
A federal judge sentenced Abbas Tavakolian of Tehran, Iran to 57 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release in connection with this his guilty plea to charges he attempted exportation of aircraft parts and components for F-4 and F-14 fighter aircraft, and money laundering.

According to the agreed statement of facts presented to the court as part of the plea agreement, the 58-year-old Tavakolian, a Baltimore resident, attempted to export munitions from the United States to the Republic of Iran, including aircraft parts and components for F-4 and F-14 fighter aircraft. On July 20, 2004, Tavakolian transferred about $5,980 from Panama to the United States to acquire the aircraft parts.

Tavakolian contacted undercover agents by electronic mail and telephone conversations to acquire military use technology from the United States for use by the Iranian military. The technology sought by Tavakolian included gunnery system components for F-4 and F-14 fighter aircraft. One such component was the Vulcan six-barrel, rotary action, "inner drum" which was essential to feed ammunition into the multi-barrel ‘gattling gun’ of the offensive weapon system of the fighter aircraft. Tavakolian sought 100 of these "inner drums".

On June 2, 2004 Tavakolian met with undercover agents in Europe to obtain an "inner drum". A few weeks later, Tavakolian sent $5, 980 via wire transfer as a down payment for the purchase of the "inner drums" and other embargoed or prohibited items. A second down payment of $4,000 was wired and on September 16, 2004 an additional $10,000 was sent to the undercover agents. Tavakolian subsequently agreed to meet undercover agents in the South Pacific and acquire the items for shipment to Tehran, Iran which cost approximately $380,000. Tavakolian agreed to deliver 25% of the cost when he took delivery of the items.

On December 10, 2004 Tavakolian arrived in the South Pacific from Iran. He subsequently met with undercover agents and examined the "inner drum" and other Munitions List and prohibited items compiled at his request by the undercover agents. Satisfied that the items were in order, Tavakolian directed the agents to fill out shipment paperwork for DHL delivery services for the shipment of the items to Tehran. He also directed the agents to label the items as agricultural equipment in order to disguise the true nature of the items. Tavakolian then paid undercover agents $100,000 in United States currency and compensated them for the DHL shipping costs. Tavakolian was present when a DHL representative took custody of the items. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents subsequently intercepted and took custody of the items.

On December 11, 2004 Tavakolian was arrested and taken into federal custody after another meeting with undercover agents in which Tavakolian sought to acquire several complete F-14 fighter aircraft for future shipment to Iran.

In another case involving an Iranian, A federal Grand Jury indicted a Lincolnwood, Illinois resident last week on 193 counts of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and illegally transferring almost $4 million to Iran, following a joint US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI investigation.

Hossein Esfahani, 44, was indicted June 30 in the Northern District of Illinois for operating a “Hawala,� and for violating Presidential orders issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A Hawala is an alternative remittance system, which transfers money (usually across borders) without the immediate physical or electronic transfer of funds.

Money changers (“hawaladars�) physically receive cash or funds in one country. Correspondent hawaladars in another country dispense an identical amount (minus any fees or commissions) to a recipient or a designated recipient bank account. Count one of the indictment charges Esfahani with operating an unlicensed money service business out of his Lincolnwood home. Counts two through 99 charge that between Oct. 31, 2001 and Feb. 14, 2005, Esfahani caused funds to be exported from the U.S. to Iran. Counts 100 through 191 charge that Esfahani transmitted $3,918,000 to Iran over the same time period without the required license.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegations pursuing forfeiture of one Harris Bank account, one property located at 3959 W. Arthur, Lincolnwood, Ill., one property located at 205 Batavia Lane, Schaumburg, Ill., one property located at 870-890 Roselle Road, Hoffman Estates, Ill., and one property located at 5 Spencer Road, New Lennox, Ill. A second forfeiture count seeks forfeiture of all money or property that was subject of the transactions to Iran including but not limited to $3,918,000. The U.S. may also seek substitute assets.

Any criminal or terrorist can come to these underground businesses and have millions wired anywhere in the world with no questions asked, according to federal officials. ICE’s goal is to identify, disrupt and ultimately dismantle these underground financing and transmittal operations. Esfahani was originally arrested March 22 following the court complaint. He was released with a monitored security ankle bracelet after posting a $600,000 bond in early June.

According to the indictment, Esfahani operated Hossein M. Esfahani Exchange, aka Esfahani Exchange, aka King Exchange from his Lincolnwood home. Esfahani transmitted almost $4 million to at least three money exchange businesses in Dubai, U.A.E., and additional amounts to Shiraz, Iran.

Sources: US Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Association of Chiefs of Police, National Security Institute

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others, and he's a columnist for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.

57 months for stealing MILITARY AIRCRAFT parts?

Ooooh, nothing like a "hard line" on those terrorists, nothing like a "crack-down" on spies, thieves, foreign enemy agents, and TRAITORS now is there?

What a joke....that isn't even 5 years.

There are American teen-agers serving life sentences in American Penitiaries for getting caught 3 times smoking "weed".

This sentence is a JOKE, a DISGRACE, an INSULT to American Intelligence and our Sense of Justice.

He will probably get out sooner with good behavior. He might get out in half the time.

You're right. Probably 3 years or less. I was too depressed to contemplate it earlier. These are MILITARY AIRCRAFT PARTS...being traded to Iran....something only a Spy or a Traitor would do.

It's nauseating!!

A teen-ager in my home town a couple of years behind me in school stole the Mayor's Car and drove it around the square laughing and waving at all his friends and the girls. Obviously, he got "caught" as he was obviously not trying to "hide". He didn't damage the car and obviously the keys were in it when he took it. They sent him to the state penitiary for 7 years...for a 20 minute joy ride and a practical joke on the Mayor.

Can you understand why we all need buckets and pails? The injustice of this is really just too much.

I've never protested; never bucked the establishment; never been an activist; never carried a poster; never wore an armband, but let me tell ya.....

I'm feeling the need to don a headband, armband, hailing posters and banners, and March on Washington so other Americans who like to "SEE" something on national news instead of "READ" about it in papers or on forums can know who we are, what we are about, and why they need TO FOLLOW US to save our nation and our way of life.

I think we need to do this soon. What do you all think?