A federal court in New York on Thursday sentenced a dual citizen of the US and Iran
...Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979...to 30 months in prison for illegally exporting technology products to the Iranian government.
Kambiz Attar Kashani, 45, violated US sanctions against Iran and intentionally deceived US authorities and companies by exporting the items through front companies in the United Arab Emirates, prosecutors said.
Kashani and co-conspirators are accused of using the two UAE companies to procure electronic goods and technology from multiple US tech companies between 2019 and 2021. The items were then delivered to Iran, including the Bank of Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Kashani intentionally deceived US authorities and companies, prosecutors said. One of the companies was in New York and another in Massachusetts.
Some of the exports included sophisticated electronic equipment and software.
Prosecutors said Kashani acted "for the benefit of the Central Bank of Iran, a designated entity that materially supports known terrorist organizations."
The US has sanctioned the Central Bank of Iran for its support of
Hezbollah and the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, both designated terrorist groups.US Attorney Breon Peace said, "His scheme undermined US foreign policy and national security interests, and warranted a substantial sentence of incarceration to deter others."
"Kashani will now head to prison for strengthening the economy of one of the world’s most infamous state sponsors of terrorism to line his own pockets, while circumventing US laws in place to protect our national security interests," said the FBI
...Formerly one of the world's premier criminal investigation organizations, something for a nation to be proud of. Now it's a political arm of the Deep State oligarchy that is willing to trump up charges, suppress evidence, or take out insurance policies come election time...
agent handling the case, Joseph R. Bonavolanta.
Some of the exports helped the Iranian banking system in its operations, boosting Iran’s economy, and allowing for better access to funds that helped Iran develop its nuclear program and terror activities, prosecutors said. Some of the products were classified as information security items and were subject to national security and anti-terrorism controls.
Kashani pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2022. In addition to the prison term, he will pay a $50,000 fine. He had faced up to 20 years in prison for the charges.
Will he at least be stripped of his American citizenship when he has served his sentence?