Brian Assi, Exporting US-Made Drill Rigs to Iran, Florida 2023

Florida-based multinational heavy machinery manufacturer executive Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, has been convicted of conspiring to export US-made drill rigs to Iran in violation of US sanctions laws.

A federal jury found Assi guilty of 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.

The crime was committed by Assi, a Middle East-based salesman of a multinational heavy machinery manufacturer with a U.S.-based subsidiary and production plant located in northern Florida.

According to evidence presented at trial, Assi conspired with individuals affiliated with Sakht Abzar Pars Co. (SAP-Iran), based in Tehran, Iran, to export U.S.-made heavy machinery indirectly to Iran without first obtaining the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Assi and his Iranian co-conspirators orchestrated the scheme by locating an Iraq-based distributor to serve as the forward-facing purchaser of two U.S.-origin blasthole drills from the U.S. subsidiary of Assi’s employer. The drills are a type of heavy machinery used to create holes in the ground that are then filled with controlled explosives for mining.

Assi facilitated the sale of the drills and attempted to export them to Iran and used freight forwarding companies to ship the heavy equipment from the U.S. to Turkey. In doing so, Assi concealed any Iranian involvement in the transaction from his employer, claiming the drills were ultimately destined for use in Iraq. But in truth, Assi intended for his Iranian co-conspirators to transship or reexport those items from Turkey to Iran, in circumvention of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

Assi concealed his activities with his 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 drill’s export from the United States 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 coconspirators in Iran were the true intended recipients, and Iran was the ultimate intended delivery destination.

The conviction affirms the Justice Department’s resolve to disrupt and hold accountable those who evade our sanctions against Iran, wherever in the world they may be.

The defendant's scheme was discovered and brought to light by the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies, demonstrating their resolve to hold those who violate regulatory restrictions accountable for their criminal conduct.

The case is a prime example of the importance of enforcing US export control and sanctions laws, and the severe consequences that await those who attempt to circumvent them.

Assi, a resident of northern Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury on [Crime Date].

The defendant, Brian Assi, is scheduled to be sentenced on [Sentence Date] and faces potential prison time for his crimes.

Assi was convicted of the following charges: 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.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/foreign-national-convicted-conspiring-export-us-made-drill-rigs-iran-violation-us-sanctions