Iranian Draws 10-Year Term on Drug Count

A 34-year-old Iranian, who was arrested for trying to buy cocaine while free on bond after being convicted in a money-laundering case, was sentenced Monday in Los Angeles federal court to 10 years in prison on the drug charge.

The sentence imposed on Ali Reza Naimi Mohases is in addition to the five years he has already received after being convicted with his brother for conspiracy to violate currency reporting laws and using a banker to help violate those laws.

U.S. District Judge James M. Ideman also fined Mohases $25,000 on the drug charge--conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine.

Mohases was arrested in April after he was observed by undercover agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration investigating drug trafficking in Orange County, Assistant U.S. Atty. Laurie L. Levenson said.

Investigators said Mohases purchased two kilograms of purported cocaine from an undercover DEA agent for $62,000 and was arrested at a home in El Toro after making the purchase.

At the time of his arrest, Mohases was free on $300,000 bond pending his sentencing in the federal money-laundering case, Levenson said.

Once in custody on the drug charge, he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison in the money-laundering case by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Gadbois Jr.

Meanwhile, a federal jury in Los Angeles Monday continued to deliberate the fate of a San Clemente man, Mark Steven McFarlane, 30, who was arrested with Mohases in the cocaine conspiracy case.