A Dutch man has been charged in a New Jersey court for trying to export goods to the Iranian military without authorization from the U.S. government.
Ulrich Davis, a former manager of a Netherlands-based freight forwarding company, was arrested Saturday as he tried to fly to the Netherlands from Newark Liberty International Airport.
Davis is charged with violating the Iranian Transactions Regulations that fall under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which prohibits sending goods to Iran without a license from the Treasury Department.
According to the criminal complaint, Davis was involved in exporting aircraft parts, peroxide and aerosols and other items, to Iran between August 2007 and January 2008. He tried to hide the contents by "neutralizing" packages - asking invoices and lists to be removed from boxes - and misrepresenting the final destinations of shipments on Commerce Department forms.
In a 2008 email, Davis wrote that "99% of these goods were destined to be send to Teheran[sic]/Iran, which was and still is a very difficult destination due to political reasons." A shipment of aircraft parts, the complaint alleges, was sent to an Iranian government entity which manufactures Iranian Military Aircrafts.
"The violation of export laws designed to keep American munitions out of the wrong hands is more than shady business practice," said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, "it is a threat to national security."
The Obama administration last month accused Iran of having a 'secret deal' with al-Qaida in Pakistan. U.S. Department of Treasury documents said that Iran has been providing both money and recruits to the terrorist organization. The U.S. has previously imposed sanctions on Iran for its pursuit of nuclear arms and support of terrorist groups.
Davis was not charged on any counts related to terrorism. He faces 20 years in prison and a $1 million penalty if convicted.