Info:
Iranian national Mehdi Khoshghadam is the managing director of PASNA and is responsible for the company’s sanctions evasion efforts. Using numerous front companies, Khoshghadam has sought a variety of electronic components from foreign suppliers primarily based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Khoshghadam is designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, PASNA, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13382.
PASNA uses a mix of front companies and aliases when conducting business with foreign suppliers. The front companies include Amv AJ Nilgoun Bushehr CO. (AMV AJ) and PASNA International SDN. BHD. (PASNA International).
AMV AJ is an Iran-based front company for PASNA. Khoshghadam has used AMV AJ to procure electronic goods for PASNA, including electrical components and connectors
OFAC is exposing PASNA and Khoshghadam’s use of two fictional companies in their sanctions evasion efforts by adding the names as aliases on PASNA’s SDN List entry. These names are Sino Trader Co. and Pouyan Electronic Co.
Arttronix International (HK) Limited (Arttronix) is a Hong Kong-based company that has supplied electronic components to PASNA through Khoshghadam. Arttronix uses its alias, Aderal Industrial (HK) Ltd., to conduct business. Arttronix has supplied a number of different electronic goods to PASNA.
Jotrin Electronics Limited (Jotrin) is a PRC-based PASNA supplier. Jotrin has supplied PASNA components through Khoshghadam and PASNA’s front company AMV AJ, including microelectromechanical systems and accelerometers
Vohom Technology (HK) CO., Limited (Vohom) is a PRC-based PASNA supplier. Vohom has supplied electronic goods to PASNA through Khoshghadam.
Yinke (HK) Electronics Company Limited (Yinke) is also a PRC-based PASNA supplier. On multiple occasions, Yinke has supplied PASNA, through Khoshghadam, foreign manufactured electronic components.
A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging an Iranian national with the unlawful export of electrical cables and connectors from the United States to Iran, through Hong Kong. According to court documents, Mehdi Khoshghadam, a.k.a. “David Lei,” and “Pouyan,” an Iranian national residing in Tehran, Iran, was indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on one count of conspiracy, one count of violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation seeking all proceeds of the alleged crimes. A warrant has been issued for Khoshghadam’s arrest and he remains a fugitive.
According to the indictment, Khoshghadam is the Managing Director of Pardazan Systems Namad Arman, an Iranian importer of electronics and other goods. In 2016, Khoshghadam began purchasing electrical connectors and cables from a U.S. Company, which were shipped to a freight forwarding company located in Hong Kong and then shipped to Iran. Khoshghadam used an alias of “David Lei” when communicating with the U.S. Company and a front company called Merlin International Trading Company, purported to be located in Singapore, to order the goods from the U.S. company. During one of the initial purchases of goods from the U.S. Company, Khoshghadam attempted to pay for the goods using a different name, but the U.S. Company informed him that its bank had rejected the payment because the payor name needed to be the same as the company submitting the order. Khoshghadam then contacted a co-conspirator located in China and had that person inform the U.S. Company that the co-conspirator was Khoshghadam’s agent and would handle payment for the goods.
Involved In:
Iran’s UAV and Military Programs
Also Known As:
(Arabic: مهدی خوش قدم)
KHOSH GHADAM, Mehdi
David Lei
Pouya
DOB:
15 Dec 1983
POB:
Tehran, Iran;
Country:
Malaysia
Address:
A-1-5, Cita Damansara, PJU 3/27, Sunway Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 47810, Malaysia
Tehran, Iran
Passport:
T19665422
National ID No.:
0072155434 (Iran)