Massoud Habibion, Computer Export Scheme, District of Columbia 2012

Massoud Habibion, Computer Export Scheme, District of Columbia 2012

A federal court in the District of Columbia has sentenced two individuals and their California company for their roles in a scheme to illegally export millions of dollars worth of computer-related goods from the United States to Iran.

Massoud Habibion, 49, a U.S. citizen, and Mohsen Motamedian, 44, a U.S. citizen, along with their company Online Micro LLC, were sentenced on February 16, 2012 in connection with a scheme to export computer equipment to Iran through the United Arab Emirates.

The sentences were announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen Jr.

U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle sentenced Habibion to 13 months in prison for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and to defraud the United States. Motamedian was sentenced to three years supervised release for obstruction of justice.

In addition to the prison sentence, Habibion and his company agreed to forfeit $1.9 million seized from Online Micro's bank accounts by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations during the course of the investigation. Habibion and Online Micro were also denied export privileges for 10 years, although the denial order will be suspended provided that neither Habibion nor Online Micro commit any export violations during the 10-year probationary period and comply with the terms of the criminal plea agreements and sentences.

Motamedian separately agreed to a $50,000 monetary penalty to settle a civil charge that he solicited a false statement to federal law enforcement agents.

Habibion and Motamedian were arrested on a criminal complaint in Costa Mesa, California on April 7, 2011. The defendants and their company were later indicted on April 21, 2011.

The investigation was conducted by the ICE-HSI. Habibion and Online Micro willfully conspired with a company operating in Dubai, UAE, and Tehran, Iran, to procure U.S.-origin computers from the United States and export those computers from the United States to Iran through Dubai without first obtaining licenses or authorizations from OFAC.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/two-individuals-and-their-california-company-sentenced-connection-exports-computer-equipment