Parkville Man Gets 2 Years for Iran Export Scheme

GREENBELT, MD – Ali Saboonchi, 34, of Parkville, Maryland, was sentenced today to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for his role in a scheme to illegally export American-made industrial products and services to Iran. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm, marks a victory for federal investigators battling the circumvention of long-standing economic sanctions.

The case, brought by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, along with the FBI and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), centers on a conspiracy that ran from November 2009 to 2013. The U.S. has maintained a comprehensive trade embargo against Iran since 1995, barring the export of goods and services without explicit authorization from the Department of the Treasury. Saboonchi, according to trial evidence, knowingly bypassed these regulations.

Prosecutors detailed how Saboonchi, operating under the direction of co-conspirators based in Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), established Ace Electric Company as a front to procure and ship restricted items. These weren’t trinkets; the illicit cargo included crucial industrial components – two cyclone separators, six thermocouples, ten stainless steel filter elements, four bypass filters, three flow meters, three actuator springs, hydraulic valves, connectors, liquid pumps, and valves. These parts have applications spanning oil, gas, energy, aerospace, and even defense industries. Saboonchi obtained price quotes, paid for the items, and took delivery, then shipped them to entities in the UAE and China, acting as waystations to ultimately deliver the goods to Iran.

The scheme wasn’t about altruism. Saboonchi was reimbursed for the goods by his Iranian co-conspirators, completing a circular route of illegal commerce. Crucially, no authorization was ever sought – or received – to export these products. The government presented a two-week trial establishing Saboonchi’s knowledge and participation in the conspiracy. The evidence clearly showed he wasn’t a passive participant but a key operator.

While Saboonchi faces the consequences of his actions, his co-defendants – Arash Rashti Mohammad, Mehdi Mohammadi, and Ehsan Naghshinea – all citizens and residents of Iran, remain at large, indicted alongside Saboonchi. Their capture and prosecution are ongoing priorities for federal authorities. The FBI and HSI Baltimore were specifically commended by Rosenstein for their investigative work.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Manuelian and Kristi O’Malley prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. This case serves as a stark reminder that attempts to circumvent U.S. sanctions will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution, regardless of the complexity of the scheme or the location of the perpetrators. The Grimy Times will continue to follow developments in the pursuit of Saboonchi’s fugitive co-conspirators.