Virginia Man Sentenced To Prison For Violating Iran Sanctions

Behrouz Mokhtari, a 72-year-old US citizen, and a native of Iran received a 41-month federal prison sentence for conspiring to violate sanctions.

US District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby also ordered him to forfeit approximately $2.8 million in criminal proceeds and a property in California worth over $1.5 million.

In January, Mokhtari pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA") – that restricts the exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran. He was sentenced this week to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron said, "This defendant knew that he was prohibited from engaging in business with Iran but did so anyway and attempted to conceal his actions through his control of businesses and financial entities in Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Now, he will not only serve time in federal prison, he will forfeit cash and property purchased with his ill-gotten proceeds."

The charges against Mokhtari involved two separate conspiracies. In one, he engaged in prohibited business activities on behalf of Iranian entities, evading sanctions from March 2018 to September 2020.

The second conspiracy spanned from February 2013 to at least June 2017. Mokhtari and Iranian nationals conducted illicit shipments of petrochemical products to and from Iran, using the US financial system to facilitate the shipments.

Mokhtari transferred ownership of the vessels to other entities to hide their financial interests. He used the United States financial system for related transactions, including the sale of one vessel for over $3.1 million, from which he received approximately $2.8 million. Mokhtari used these proceeds to purchase a residence in Campbell, California.