WASHINGTON – Hassan Saied Keshari, a naturalized United States citizen and CEO of Kesh Air International, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally export military and commercial aircraft parts to Iran. The guilty plea was announced by Matt Olsen, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security; R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement; Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations; and Sharon Woods, Director, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Keshari appeared in federal court today to announce his guilty plea on behalf of himself and his company, Kesh Air International. Charges are still pending against co-defendant Traian Bujduveanu and his corporation, Orion Aviation Corp. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz.
According to documents filed with the court, Keshari purchased aircraft parts on behalf of purchasers in Iran and exported the parts to Iran by way of freight forwarders in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The military aircraft parts were purchased from co-defendant Traian Bujduveanu, who operated through his Broward County, Fla., business, Orion Aviation Corp.
Among the aircraft parts illegally exported to Iran through the conspiracy were parts designed exclusively for the F-14 Fighter Jet, the Cobra AH-1 Attack Helicopter, and the CH-53A Military Helicopter. All of these aircraft are part of the Iranian military fleet, while the F-14 is known to be used exclusively by the Iranian military.
Keshari received orders by email from buyers in Iran for specific aircraft parts and made arrangements for the sale and shipment of the parts to a company in Dubai through the use of false or misleading shipping documents. From Dubai, the parts were then shipped on to the purchasers in Iran.
Keshari has been in federal custody since his arrest in June 2008 and will remain in custody pending his sentencing. Co-defendant Bujduveanu also remains in federal custody awaiting trial, which is scheduled for May 2009.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Weapons|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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