FORMER CONNECTICUT RESIDENT INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO SHIP SENSITIVE MILITARY DOCUMENTS TO IRAN
MOZAFFAR KHAZAEE, formerly of Manchester, Conn., was formally charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, after he attempted to ship to Iran proprietary material relating to military jet engines and the U.S. Air Force’s F35 Joint Strike Fighter program that he had stolen from defense contractors where he had been employed.
U. S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security inspected a shipment that the defendant sent by truck from Connecticut to a freight forwarder in Long Beach, Calif., which was supposed to ship from the U.S. to Iran. The documentation for this shipment indicated that it contained household goods. Upon inspecting the shipment, it was discovered that the contents of the shipment contained numerous boxes of documents consisting of sensitive technical manuals, specification sheets, and other proprietary material. They also learned that the defendant holds Iranian and U.S. citizenship and, as recently as August 2013, worked as an engineer for defense contractors.
The indictment charges KHAZAEE with two counts of transporting, transmitting and transferring in interstate commerce goods obtained by theft, conversion, or fraud. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
To read more: BIS Newsroom
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