Criminal indictments were unsealed in Delaware and Massachusetts relating to the prosecution of Iranian arms procurement agent Amir Hossein Ardebili. In May 2008, Ardebili pled guilty to multiple violations of the Arms Export Control Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, smuggling, conspiracy and money laundering. He was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2009 and was reportedly deported back to Iran after serving his sentence.
Ardebili was living in Iran and working as an arms acquisitions agent for the government of Iran. He was arrested on October 2, 2007 in the country of Georgia in an undercover sting operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents following a three year investigation; he was secretly extradited to the U.S. in January 2008. During the investigation, Ardebili negotiated the purchase and illegal export of a number of military components, including: QRS-11 Gyro Chip Sensors, which are used in advanced aircraft, missile, space and commercial applications; MAPCGM0003 Phase Shifters, which can be used in missile guidance systems; and a Digital Air Data Computer, which is a replacement for the computer that calculates flight parameters on U.S. F-4 fighter aircraft used by Iran.
Sources:
[1] “Iranian Arms Procurement Agent Sentenced to 60 Months Imprisonment,” Press Release, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security, December 14, 2009.
[2] John Shiffman, “Iranian Arms Dealer, Extradited in ’07, Secretly Jailed in Phila,” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 2, 2009.
[3] David Locke Hall, “Meet the Friends of Iran’s Military Pardoned by Obama,” Wall Street Journal, January 20, 2016.