Three U.S. men have been charged with illegally exporting $24 million in technology to Iran, including electronics that are often used for weapons and defense systems, according to a federal indictment that was unsealed on Friday.
Bahram Mechanic and Tooraj "Roger" Faridi of Houston, and Khosrow Afghahi of Los Angeles each face up to 20 years in prison, according to a press statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The defendants allegedly used their Houston-based company Smart Power Systems, Inc. to transfer technology to their Iranian-based company called Faratel, Co., in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
In addition to sanctions violations, Mechanic and Afghahi are also charged with money laundering.
The shipments from 2010 until the present included electronics that can be used for cruise or surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, and missile launch technology, according to the indictment.
Faratel Co.’s clients reportedly include the Iranian Ministry of Defense, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and the Iranian Centrifuge Technology Company.
Federal authorities said Mechanic has been investigated for illegal trade deals three additional times since 1985, and has one past criminal conviction and one civil action.
Arthur Shyu of Taiwan, Matin Sadeghi of Turkey, and their companies Hosoda Taiwan Limited Corporation and Golsad Istanbul Trading Ltd. are also named as defendants in the indictment.