USA v. Faghigi, Mohammad, et al.
Miami, FL

Iran

Mohammad Faghihi, his wife Farzeneh Modarresi, and his sister Faezeh Faghihi were charged with crimes related to their alleged violations of U.S. sanctions on Iran, and money laundering. Between October 2016 and November 2020, Express Gene, the company the defendants operated, received numerous wire transfers from accounts in Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, totaling almost $3.5 million. It is alleged that some of the money received was used by Express Gene and its principals to purchase genetic sequencing equipment from U.S. manufacturers and ship them to Iran without a license from the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to export the machines, despite sanctions on Iran. The incoming money also was allegedly used by F. Faghihi and Modarresi to fund the 2019 purchase of the Express Gene property. All defendants are charged with conspiring to commit an offense against the United States and conspiring to commit money laundering. Faghihi and Modarresi are also charged with the unlawful exports of goods to Iran, and smuggling goods out of the United States. Faghihi and F. Faghihi were charged with smuggling goods into the United States and making false statements. Faghihi is further charged with wire fraud.