Pensacola: Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, 63, of Beirut, Lebanon, was sentenced to 44 months in prison for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, submitting false or misleading export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to United States Department of Justice, the defendant conspired to export millions of dollars of U.S.-made heavy machinery to Iran, a leading state sponsor of terrorism, said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. The National Security Division will find and prosecute those who illegally sell American products to adversaries.
The defendant threatened U.S. economic and national security by conspiring and concealing efforts to circumvent export controls to provide heavy machinery to Iran, a designated state sponsor of terrorism for the past 40 years, said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida. The office will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who violates laws and offers material support to America's enemies.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Assi concealed activities with Iranian co-conspirators by causing false information to be entered into the Automated Export System (AES), a U.S.-government database containing information about exports from the United States. The U.S.-based plant hired a U.S. freight forwarder to arrange the drills' export from the U.S. to Iraq. As part of the shipping process, the freight forwarder submitted information to AES about the shipment, including the ultimate consignee's name and the ultimate delivery destination. Assi misled his employer by claiming that the Iraqi distributor was the ultimate consignee, and that the ultimate delivery destination was Iraq. In fact, Assi knew that his co-conspirators in Iran were the true intended recipients, and Iran was the ultimate intended delivery destination.
In furtherance of the illicit transaction, Assi and his co-conspirators caused the transfer of approximately $2.7 million from Turkey to pass through the United States.
The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Grogan and Harley W. Ferguson for the Northern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.