Exporter Pleads Guilty in Nuclear Case
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PHILADELPHIA — A Canadian who won a new trial on his conviction for trying to export metals used in nuclear weapons to Pakistan in 1986 pleaded guilty to lesser charges rather than face another trial.
Arshad Z. Pervez was released after being sentenced in the new case to 32 months in prison, time he has already served, Assistant U.S. Atty. Amy Kurland said Saturday.
Pervez pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempting to export beryllium, a material crucial to nuclear weapons production. In return, prosecutors dropped charges of conspiracy and making false statements to the government, she said.
Pervez, a native of Pakistan who became a Canadian citizen, was to be arraigned Wednesday on a new indictment but surprised prosecutors with his plea, Kurland said.
Kurland said Pervez contacted Carpenter Technology Corp. in late 1986 to ask about purchasing a high-strength nickel-iron alloy that is used to build nuclear weapons.
A Carpenter official who knew that the import of the metal to Pakistan was restricted contacted the government.
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