Thread by @MissMaga2016

Iranian national Bahram Karimi was charged with bank fraud conspiracy and lying for his role in a joint project between #Venezuela and #Iran where they used the US financial system to funnel over $115 Million to Iranian entities and individuals.

https://twitter.com/sdnynews/status/1223372712237764608

Looks like Karimi might actually live in Canada.

This goes back to 2004 when Venezuela and Iran entered into a Cooperation Framework Agreement and later an MOU where Iran’s Stratus Group would build housing in Venezuela.

Then Stratus Group created the IIHC (Iranian International Housing Corporation) in Iran, who would be in charge of construction.

OH? Then IIHC entered a contract with a subsidiary of a Venezuelan state-owned energy company. Was it a #PDVSA subsidiary? 🧐

Yup, it sure was PDVSA!

There it is - the Stratus Group, IIHC, PDVSA subsidiary, and housing units. 👇

manueldelia.com/2018/08/venezu…

And, of course the PDVSA subsidiary set up front companies to hide Iran's involvement because they were evading US sanctions.

Karimi also worked with other people in the scheme, but I'm not sure if any of them have been charged yet or not.

Well, that was quick, lol. Here's another one that was charged in the scheme in 2018 - Iranian national Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad.

Nejad helped incorporate Clarity Trade and Finance & Stratus International Contracting & opened bank accounts for them.

justice.gov/opa/pr/iranian…

Well, would you look at that. Ali Sadr also links back to Malta journalist Daphne Galizia who was killed by a car bomb.

Ali Sadr owned Pilatus Bank & he filed a libel suit against Galizia after she reported that Pilatus embezzled money! #PanamaPapers

ft.com/content/14f961…

Ali Sadr and Pilatus Bank quietly dropped the lawsuit against her after she was killed.