Thread by @ninaandtito

Department of Justice Announces Extradition of Iranian National and Unsealing of Charges against Two Other Men for Exporting Carbon Fiber from the United States to Iran

justice.gov/opa/pr/departm…

"“Pourghannad is alleged to have sought to procure for Iran large amounts of carbon fiber — a commodity that can be used in the enrichment of uranium,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. "

" Pourghannad, an Iranian national, was arrested on those charges on May 3, 2017, in Germany and was extradited to the U.S. Pourghannad arrived in the Southern District of New York yesterday, and was presented today in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge...

...Judith C. McCarthy. Shokri and Faridmanesh remain at large."

AHEM. @911CORLEBRA777 @thespybrief
"In late 2007 and early 2008, Shokri and a Turkey-based co-conspirator (CC-2) successfully arranged for the illegal export and trans-shipment of carbon fiber from the U.S. to an Iranian company associated with Shokri (Iranian Company-1).

...Specifically, CC-2 contacted a U.S. supplier of carbon fiber, who in turn enlisted a third individual (Individual-1) for assistance with the transaction. Through Individual-1, CC-2 purchased carbon fiber from the U.S. supplier and arranged for the shipment of the carbon fiber

... from the U.S., through Europe and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Iranian Company-1, operated by Shokri, in Iran."

Turkey. Europe. UAE. Iran.

"In May 2009, Pourghannad and Shokri attempted to arrange another illegal purchase and trans-shipment of carbon fiber from the U.S. to Iran. Specifically, Individual-1 returned a signed contract to Pourghannad for Shokri’s purchase of a large quantity of carbon fiber. ...

...Individual-1 then purchased the carbon fiber from a U.S. supplier and arranged for the carbon fiber to be exported from the U.S. to a third country (Country-1), en route to Iran. Country-1 authorities, however, interdicted the carbon fiber shipment before it could be trans-

shipped to Iran."
GEORGIA
"In 2013, Pourghannad, Shokri, and Faridmanesh again attempted to illegally procure and export carbon fiber from the U.S. to Iran. In the 2013 transaction, Shokri and Pourghannad negotiated with Individual-1 for the purchase and trans-shipment to Iran

... of more than 5 tons of carbon fiber. Faridmanesh and Pourghannad further agreed with Individual-1 that the carbon fiber would be trans-shipped from the U.S. to Iran through Tbilisi, Georgia, with Faridmanesh to serve as the trans-shipper."

Indictment here justice.gov/usao-sdny/pres…

Co-Conspirators 1 & 2, Individual 1, and Iranian Company-1
Country-1
Could there be recordings of the VOIP calls???
OK so they totally knew this was illegal.

Look whose signature!
cc: @PreetBharara 💕

Farzin Faridmanesh, dis you?
I think it could be you!

Not sure if same Behzad Pourghanad, slightly different spelling (name in indictment has 2 N's) but birthdate of December 1953 = 65 years old and indictee = 65 years old.
T.I.C. Europe Limited, a UK company dissolved 2002. companieslondon.com/uk/04076183/ti…

Here is a SIMILAR CASE: but this one was export➡️CHINA, 2013:
"Chinese National Sentenced To 57 Months' Incarceration For Attempting To Illegally Export Aerospace-Grade Carbon Fiber
Defendant Stated The Carbon Fiber Was Intended For A “Jet Fighter Plane”
justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/c…