2 Accused of Trying to Export Computer to Iran

A federal grand jury Friday charged a Huntington Beach man and an Iranian national with trying to illegally ship a sophisticated IBM computer to Iran.

The grand jury indicted Reza Zandian, 41, of Iran and Paris, and Charles Reger, 57, on charges of attempting to export a controlled commodity, making a false statement to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Customs Service, and conspiracy.

If convicted on all three charges, each man would face a maximum prison sentence of 30 years and a fine of up to $750,000.

Both men said through their attorneys that they are innocent. Reger’s attorney says the federal government is trying to hype a straightforward business deal into a federal crime.

Federal prosecutors allege the men tried to ship the bulky mainframe computer to Iran via Paris by air from Los Angeles International Airport after the Commerce Department turned them down for a license to export it to Iran.

It is against federal law to export powerful computers--which the government says can be put to military use--to Iran and other countries that do not have friendly relations with the United States.

Zandian and Reger were arrested by federal agents early this month as they returned to their Costa Mesa offices from the Los Angeles airport.

Zandian owns several small Orange County companies that Reger manages.

The men are scheduled to be arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles; a trial date will be set then.