Online Micro, Owners Sentenced for Illegal Computer Exports to Iran
Two U.S. citizens and their company, Online Micro LLC, were sentenced May 16 in U.S. District Court, D.C., in connection with a scheme to illegally export millions of dollars worth of computer-related goods from the U.S. to Iran through the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Justice Department said. U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle sentenced Massoud Habibion, 49, to 13 months in prison for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and to defraud the U.S. She sentenced Mohsen Motamedian, 44, to three years supervised release for obstruction of justice. Habibion and Motamedian pleaded guilty to these charges on Feb. 16, 2012 (see ITT Online Archives [Ref.11042527]).
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Under the terms of their guilty pleas, Habibion and his company agreed to forfeiture of $1.9 million seized from Online Micro’s bank accounts by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Habibion and Online Micro are denied export privileges for 10 years, although the denial order will be suspended provided that neither Habibion nor Online Micro commit any export violations during the 10-year probationary period and comply with the terms of the criminal plea agreements and sentences. Motamedian separately agreed to a $50,000 monetary penalty to settle a civil charge that he solicited a false statement to federal law enforcement agents.