Hi °C | Lo °C An Irish trading company has been charged with sending helicopter engines and other aircraft parts to Iran, according to an indictment unveiled in a US federal court yesterday.
The 25-count indictment charges Mac Aviation of Drumcliffe in Co Sligo and three of its officers of buying components from US companies and sending them to Iran through Malaysia and other countries.
The US Justice Department says the recipients included an Iranian military firm, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial, which the US has designated as a “weapons of mass destruction proliferator” for involvement in Iran’s alleged nuclear and ballistic missile programme.
Justice Department officials said they are seeking the arrest and deportation of company owner Tom McGuinn (72); his son Sean McGuinn (40), the sales director; and commercial manager Sean Byrne.
The indictment, or charge sheet, says that in the three years before charges were filed under seal in July 2008, Mac Aviation bought US aircraft engines and parts while concealing that they were ultimately heading to customers in Iran.
The United States imposed sanctions against Iran soon after its 1979 Islamic revolution.
The indictment charges each of the Mac Aviation officials with two counts of conspiracy, 19 counts of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Iranian Transactions Regulations, four counts of false statements and allegations of forfeiture.
If convicted, they face maximum sentences of 10-20 years in prison for each of the IEEPA counts, 5-20 years in prison for each of the conspiracy counts, and five years in prison for each of the false statement counts.
