Defendant pleads guilty to conspiring to export military aircraft parts to iran
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25/10/2011 16:00 Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Military Aircraft Parts to Iran Page 1 of 2 http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/April/09-nsd-297.html Home » Briefing Room » Justice News Printer Friendly FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 2, 2009 Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Military Aircraft Parts to Iran WASHINGTON – Traian Bujduveanu has pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to a charge of conspiring to illegally export military and dual use aircraft parts to Iran. Bujduveanu appeared on behalf of himself and his now defunct corporation, Orion Aviation, in federal court in Miami today to announce his guilty plea. Bujduveanu’s co-defendant, Hassan Keshari, and his corporation, Kesh Air International, pleaded guilty in January 2009, and are awaiting sentencing. The guilty plea was announced by R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Michael Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement; Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations; and Amie R. Tanchak, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Count one of the Indictment, to which Bujduveanu pleaded guilty, charges conspiracy to export and cause the export of goods from the U.S. to the Islamic Republic Iran, in violation of the Embargo imposed upon that country by the United States and in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Title 50, United States Code, 1705(a), and to export and cause to be exported defense articles, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, Title 22, United States Code, Section 2778(b), all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. At sentencing on the conspiracy count, Traian Bujduveanu faces a maximum statutory term of five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 11 at 8:30 a.m. The Indictment alleges that Bujduveanu, a Romanian national and naturalized U.S. citizen, by and through his Plantation, Fla., corporation, Orion Aviation, sold aircraft parts to Keshari for purchasers in Iran and exported the aircraft parts to Iran by way of freight forwarders in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Among the aircraft parts illegally exported to Iran through the conspiracy were parts designed exclusively for the F-14 Fighter Jet, the Cobra AH-1 Attack Helicopter, and the CH-53A Military Helicopter. All of these aircraft are part of the Iranian military fleet, while the F-14 is known to be used exclusively by the Iranian military. Moreover, all of the parts supplied by Bujduveanu as part of the conspiracy are manufactured in the U.S., are designed exclusively for military use, and have been designated by the U.S. Department of State as "defense articles" on the U.S. Munitions List, thus requiring registration and licensing with the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Neither Bujduveanu nor his co-defendants are registered or had the required licenses to ship defense articles to Iran. According to the Indictment, Bujduveanu received orders by email from Keshari requesting specific aircraft parts for buyers in Iran. Bujduveanu then provided quotes, usually by e-mail, to Keshari. After the receipt of payment for the parts from Keshari, Bujduveanu then shipped the parts to a company in Dubai through the use of false or misleading shipping document. From Dubai, the parts were then shipped on to the purchasers in Iran. Bujduveanu has been in federal custody since his arrest in June 2008 and will remain in custody pending his sentencing. Co-defendant Keshari also remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing. Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, for their work on this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Damian. Trial Attorney Ryan Fayhee of Report a Crime Get a Job Locate a Prison, Inmate, or Sex Offender Apply for a Grant Submit a Complaint Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General Find Sales of Seized Property Find Help and Information for Crime Victims Register, Apply for Permits, or Request Records Identify Our Most Wanted Fugitives Find a Form Report and Identify Missing Persons Contact Us
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Transcript of Defendant pleads guilty to conspiring to export military aircraft parts to iran
25/10/2011 16:00Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Military Aircraft Parts to Iran
Page 1 of 2http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/April/09-nsd-297.html
Home » Briefing Room » Justice News Printer Friendly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 2, 2009
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export MilitaryAircraft Parts to Iran
WASHINGTON – Traian Bujduveanu has pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to a chargeof conspiring to illegally export military and dual use aircraft parts to Iran. Bujduveanu appeared onbehalf of himself and his now defunct corporation, Orion Aviation, in federal court in Miami today toannounce his guilty plea. Bujduveanu’s co-defendant, Hassan Keshari, and his corporation, Kesh AirInternational, pleaded guilty in January 2009, and are awaiting sentencing.
The guilty plea was announced by R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District ofFlorida; David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Michael Johnson, Special Agentin Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement; Anthony V. Mangione,Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations; andAmie R. Tanchak, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense CriminalInvestigative Service.
Count one of the Indictment, to which Bujduveanu pleaded guilty, charges conspiracy to export andcause the export of goods from the U.S. to the Islamic Republic Iran, in violation of the Embargoimposed upon that country by the United States and in violation of the International EmergencyEconomic Powers Act, Title 50, United States Code, 1705(a), and to export and cause to be exporteddefense articles, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, Title 22, United States Code, Section2778(b), all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
At sentencing on the conspiracy count, Traian Bujduveanu faces a maximum statutory term of fiveyears imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 11 at8:30 a.m.
The Indictment alleges that Bujduveanu, a Romanian national and naturalized U.S. citizen, by andthrough his Plantation, Fla., corporation, Orion Aviation, sold aircraft parts to Keshari for purchasersin Iran and exported the aircraft parts to Iran by way of freight forwarders in Dubai, United ArabEmirates.
Among the aircraft parts illegally exported to Iran through the conspiracy were parts designed
exclusively for the F-14 Fighter Jet, the Cobra AH-1 Attack Helicopter, and the CH-53A MilitaryHelicopter. All of these aircraft are part of the Iranian military fleet, while the F-14 is known to be usedexclusively by the Iranian military.
Moreover, all of the parts supplied by Bujduveanu as part of the conspiracy are manufactured in theU.S., are designed exclusively for military use, and have been designated by the U.S. Department ofState as "defense articles" on the U.S. Munitions List, thus requiring registration and licensing with theDepartment of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Neither Bujduveanu nor his co-defendantsare registered or had the required licenses to ship defense articles to Iran.
According to the Indictment, Bujduveanu received orders by email from Keshari requesting specificaircraft parts for buyers in Iran. Bujduveanu then provided quotes, usually by e-mail, to Keshari. Afterthe receipt of payment for the parts from Keshari, Bujduveanu then shipped the parts to a company inDubai through the use of false or misleading shipping document. From Dubai, the parts were thenshipped on to the purchasers in Iran.
Bujduveanu has been in federal custody since his arrest in June 2008 and will remain in custodypending his sentencing. Co-defendant Keshari also remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of ExportEnforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, and the U.S.Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, for their work on this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Damian. Trial Attorney Ryan Fayhee of
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Locate a Prison, Inmate, or Sex Offender
Apply for a Grant
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Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse orMisconduct to the Inspector General
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Identify Our Most Wanted Fugitives
Find a Form
Report and Identify Missing Persons
Contact Us
25/10/2011 16:00Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Military Aircraft Parts to Iran
Page 2 of 2http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/April/09-nsd-297.html
09-297 National Security Division
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Damian. Trial Attorney Ryan Fayhee ofthe Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, is providingassistance.
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