A British citizen living in Canada is accused of ordering millions of dollars worth of parts from Pratt & Whitney and lying about his plan to ship them to Iran in violation of federal law.
Pietro Rigolli, 47, of Quebec, was arrested by customs agents in Vermont March 4 on a warrant issued in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport. He is charged with lying to U.S. government officials about the destination of aircraft parts he ordered through his Quebec- based business, AIR RIG Inc.
Rigolli has purchased large quantities of aircraft parts through Pratt & Whitney for years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Government officials believe he shipped the parts to Iran via a circuitous route — often through Switzerland.
In the fall of 1998, Pratt officials questioned Rigolli about the destination of the parts and he said they were bound for Singapore Aerospace in Singapore, according to the government officials. But an investigation by U.S. customs officials reportedly showed that Singapore Aerospace never conducted any business with Rigolli or AIR RIG and that it had not ordered any parts.
Source: / courant /