USA v. Todd, Michael. et al.
Macon, GA
Iranian Terror
[MDGA] An indictment unsealed June 23, 2011 charged seven individuals and five corporate entities based in the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Iran for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to illegally export military components for fighter jets and attack helicopters from the United States to Iran.
Four defendants based in the United States have been charged as part of the investigation. They are The Parts Guys LLC, a company in Port Orange, Fla., that maintains a warehouse at the Middle Georgia Municipal Airport in Macon, as well as the president of The Parts Guys, Michael Edward Todd, who is a U.S. national. Galaxy Aviation Services, a company in St. Charles, Ill., and its president, Hamid Seifi, an Iranian-born U.S. national, have also been charged.
Three defendants based in France have also been indicted. They are Aerotechnic, a company in Pinsaguel, France, and its president, Philippe Sanchez, a French national, as well as Luc Teuly, a French national and the sales manager of Aerotechnic. Each of these defendants remains a fugitive.
Two defendants based in the U.A.E. have also been indicted in the case. They are Aletra General Trading, a company in Dubai, and Syed Amir Ahmed Najfi, an Iranian national and purchaser for Aletra. Najfi remains a fugitive.
Three defendants based in Iran have also been charged in the case. They are Sabanican Company, a company in Tehran, and its president, Hassan Seifi, an Iranian national, as well as Reza Seifi, an Iranian national and the managing director of Sabanican Company. Each of these defendants remains at large.
Todd and his company, The Parts Guys, pleaded guilty on May 9, 2011. Hamid Seifi and his company, Galaxy Aviation, pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2011. On June 23, 2011, Seifi was sentenced to 56 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, while Galaxy Aviation, which is now defunct, received a $400 special assessment. Todd was sentenced to 46 months in prison for providing U.S. military aircraft components to Iran.
Related Topics: Prosecutions, Terror Financing
