US has today announced 15 million US dollars for providing information on an IRGC-linked businessman. This has been announced by the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program. Earlier in December, US had seized $800,000 connected from his companies tied to IRGC’s network.
According to a statement published by US department of Justice on Dec 19, 2023– “Ardakani and his co-conspirators devised an intricate network of front companies to conceal the unlawful acquisition of U.S. and foreign technology for the procurement of components essential for lethal UAVs. These components have been identified in use by Iran’s allies in current conflicts, including Ukraine. The dismantling of these criminal networks by Homeland Security Investigations ensures that hundreds of thousands of crucial UAV components will no longer be utilized for malicious purposes.”
Ardakani and Lam, along with other associates, engaged in a conspiracy between at least September 2014 and September 2015 to illegally acquire and export dual-use microelectronics from the United States to Iran. These microelectronics, such as high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifiers, and analog-to-digital converters, are commonly used in UAV production and are subject to U.S. export controls for anti-terrorism, national security, and regional stability reasons.
Ardakani and his co-conspirators utilized a network of foreign companies on four separate occasions to obscure their activities. For instance, between June and September 2015, Ardakani and Lam caused a French company to unwittingly purchase analog-to-digital converters from a U.S. company. These converters, with applications in various communication and imaging systems, were then shipped to Hong Kong and reexported to Iran. Similar tactics, involving companies in Canada, Hong Kong, and China, were employed on the other three occasions.
In addition to the indictment against Ardakani and Lam, related seizure actions were unsealed in December targeted Nava Hobbies SDN BHD and Arta Wave SBN BHD and their assets. These entities were designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for violations of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran and money laundering. Seizures exceeding $800,000 aim to further impede the network’s ability to procure UAV components, with ongoing legal proceedings related to the seized property.
Ardakani and Lam face charges including conspiracy to export U.S. goods to Iran and defraud the United States, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison; unlawfully exporting goods to Iran, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years; and conspiracy to engage in international money laundering, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years. Both individuals, currently at large and believed to be residing abroad, await sentencing by a federal district court judge, considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. HSI, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service are actively investigating the case.
Source » resonantnews