Federal authorities have arrested a California businessman accused of helping supply American technology to Iran’s military and nuclear apparatus in violation of U.S. sanctions, prosecutors said, describing it as a serious breach of national security laws.
The Justice Department announced Wednesday that Jamshid Ghomi, 63, of Newport Coast, California, has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Ghomi is a dual citizen of the United States and Iran and serves as the founder, owner and chief executive officer of Tehran-based Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd., a computer networking company.
Federal prosecutors allege that Ghomi used the company for more than a decade to acquire U.S.-origin networking equipment for customers in Iran without obtaining the approvals required by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Authorities said the scheme allegedly benefited Iran’s nuclear and military establishment despite longstanding U.S. sanctions against the regime.
Prosecutors further allege that Ghomi concealed the operation by directing associates to remove his name from shipping records and omit invoices from shipments destined for Iran.
The Justice Department claims those actions demonstrate that Ghomi knew the conduct was unlawful and took deliberate steps to hide it from authorities.
In addition to the sanctions allegations, Ghomi is accused of receiving more than $10 million annually through his technology company while reporting no more than $20,000 in income to the Internal Revenue Service.
Federal officials signaled they intend to pursue both criminal penalties and asset forfeiture if the allegations are proven in court.
“Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.
“We will hold him accountable by seeking an appropriate prison sentence and by seizing his assets, including his $35 million Newport Beach mansion,” Essayli added.
Ghomi was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Santa Ana, California.
