Where Industry and Security Intersect
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Portland, Ore. -- A federal judge has sentenced Henry J. Trojack of Las Vegas, Nev. to seven years in prison for Trojack's role in a conspiracy to ship impregnated alumina and gas turbine parts to Iran in violation of U.S. conspiracy and money laundering laws. Trojack will be subject to three years of supervised release when he finishes his prison term.
A federal jury convicted Trojack in February 1998 on one count of money laundering, resulting in an 84-month prison sentence, and one count of conspiracy, resulting in a 60-month prison sentence, which will be served concurrently with the seven-year term. The conspiracy count alleged that Trojack and his partner, David Hamid Rashidian, working under the company name R & H International, tried to acquire the chemical, impregnated alumina, and G.E. gas turbine parts for sale to the government of Iran. The plan called for the goods to be sold through a front company set up in the United Arab Emirates. The alumina was valued at approximately $2.2 million and the turbines at $900,000. The U.S. has broad sanctions against most direct or indirect trade with Iran.
"Our pursuit of the case demonstrates the Commerce Department's resolve to strictly enforce the U.S. embargo against Iran, and the strong penalty assessed by the judge highlights the seriousness of this crime," said F. Amanda DeBusk, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement. She also commended the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Gorder, as well as the Commerce and Customs agents who worked on the case.
The case resulted from a joint investigation by Commerce's San Jose Office of Export Enforcement and the U.S. Customs Service office in Portland.
The Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Export Administration, administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation and short supply. Criminal penalties, as well as administrative sanctions, can be imposed for violations of the Regulations.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.