A Turkish-Iranian businessman accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

Charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering; arrested by U.S. authorities on March 19, 2016; co-defendants are Camelia Jamshidy, Hossein Najafzadeh, and Mohammad Zarrab.

Owned and operated a network of companies based in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including Royal Holding A.S. in Turkey, Durak Doviz Exchange in Turkey, and Al Nafees Exchange in the UAE.

Royal Holding allegedly transmitted $953,288 in January 2011 to a Canadian company, via a U.S. bank, on behalf of Iran's MAPNA Group and a subsidiary of Bank Mellat known as Mellat Exchange.

As part of the conspiracy, in March 2011 a $35,900 wire transfer to a Chinese company was allegedly facilitated on behalf of Mellat Exchange, and a failed transfer of $9,225 for Mellat Exchange was blocked by a U.S. bank; Al Nafees Exchange and Asi Kiymetli Madenler Turizm Otom, a Turkish company, were allegedly involved in the transactions; other companies that were involved in transactions as part of the conspiracy included Turkey-based ECB Kuyumculuk Ic Vedis Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi and UAE-based Gunes General Trading LLC.

Was allegedly involved in a series of wire transfers in July 2015 for Mahan Air.

Beneficiaries of the conspiracy allegedly also included National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Naftiran Intertrade Company Ltd (NICO), Naftiran Intertrade Company Sarl (NICO Sarl), and Hong Kong Intertrade Company (HKICO).

33 years old as of March 2016.