Pair Held for Allegedly Selling Gear to Iran
Federal agents arrested two Iranian citizens Wednesday in Newport Beach on charges of violating U.S. export regulations by shipping restricted high-tech equipment to Iran, the Commerce Department said.
Agents for the department arrested Reza Amiri, 43, and Don Danesh, 55, of Ray Amiri Computer Consultants for allegedly selling unlicensed portable oscilloscopes to Iran, said Brooks Ohlson, special agent in charge of the Commerce Department’s office of export enforcement in Newport Beach.
Oscilloscopes can be used in civilian and defense applications, including developing missile guidance systems and processing data from nuclear weapons tests.
U.S. Magistrate Kirtland L. Nahlum in Los Angeles refused to allow bail for either man because of the risk that they would flee the country to avoid prosecution. The suspects are being held by federal authorities in Los Angeles. Neither could be reached for comment.
If convicted of knowingly violating export control laws, each suspect could face five years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
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