Publication Type:
- International Enforcement Actions
U.S. nationals Hamid Seifi and Michael Edward Todd, along with their respective companies, Galaxy Aviation Services and The Parts Guys, LLC, have pleaded guilty to charges that they illegally exported military equipment to Iran from November 2008 through January 2010. The charges were brought by a federal grand jury in Georgia in 2010 against 7 individuals and 5 corporate entities. The 12 defendants, based in the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates and Iran, were accused of planning to export parts for the Bell AH-1 attack helicopter, the UH-1 Huey attack helicopter, as well as F-5 and F-4 fighter jets, without the required U.S. export licenses. According to prosecutors, the parts were to be transferred to Iran (after passing through various other suppliers in Europe and the Middle East) to help repair Iran's aging aircraft fleet. Also charged were the French company Aerotechnic, along with its president Philippe Sanchez and sales manager Luc Teuly; Dubai-based Aletra General Trading and its Iranian employee Syed Amir Ahmed Najfi; and Seifi's Iranian relatives Hassan Seifi and Reza Seifi, along with their Iran-based firm, Sabanican Company. All 8 remaining parties have been added to the U.S. Commerce Department's "Entity List," and all of the remaining individuals charged are still at large.
Footnotes:
[1] "Members of International Procurement Network Indicted for Supplying Iran with U.S. Military Aircraft Components - Total of 12 Defendants in U.S., France, U.A.E., and Iran Charged," Press Release, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Atlanta Division, June 23, 2011.
[2] Indictment, U.S. v. Todd, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia, September 30, 2010.