FBI: Broomall Man Sentenced to 33 Months Behind Bars For Illegal Trading With Iran

On Friday, the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) of Philadelphia announced the sentence of Mohammad Reza Vaghari, 43, of Broomall, for illegally participating in business transactions with Iran.

Vaghari was sentenced to 33 months in prison for crimes relating to his participation in illegal business transactions with Iran between 2002 and 2005, announced the FBI.

According to the press release, the FBI stated that Vaghari was convicted in February 2011 of one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), two substantive counts of violating IEEPA, and one count of naturalization fraud stemming from his attempt to procure U.S. citizenship.

Vaghari owned Pennsylvania-based business Sammenn Company to purchase items from other American-owned companies and then exported the items to the United Arab Emirates, where his co-conspirators worked, who would then deliver the items to customers in Iran.

In addition to the illegal trading, the FBI stated Vaghari also made "false statements in connection with his attempt to obtain U.S. citizenship in November 2004."

U.S. District Court Judge Jan E. DuBois also ordered an additional three years of supervised release and a $400 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Department of Commerce, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs. The prosecutors of the case are Nancy B. Winter and Lauren Ouziel, assistant United States attorneys.