A recent release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston, S.C stated that on June 12, 2013 former president of Delfin Group USA, 49-year-old Markos Baghdasarian, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for illegally exporting goods to Iran.
Baghdasarian had pleaded guilty last December to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, violating the Iranian trade embargo by exporting more than $2 million worth of aviation oils, lubricants and polymers to customers in Iran, and making a materially false statement to authorities.
From as early as June 13, 2010, until October 12, 2011, Baghdasarian engaged in prohibited transactions with customers in Iran, including Pars Oil, which is an oil company owned by the government of Iran. U.S. persons and companies are prohibited from engaging in commercial transactions involving Iran unless authorized by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Baghdasarian had been shipping these goods from his company to the United Arab Emirates, where they were repackaged and imported into Iran. He falsely asserted that the U.A.E. was the ultimate destination for his exports. Federal law also requires exporters to file forms saying where their shipments are going.
Baghdasarian was arrested last year at the Atlanta airport before he could board a flight to the United Arab Emirates.
For further details, see the story 'Delfin USA President Baghdasarian Arrested on Federal Charges' in the May 28, 2012 issue of the OEM/Lube News.
In September 2012, the U.S. Commerce Department permitted Delfin Group USA, a Russian-owned producer and supplier of automotive and other lubricating oils based in North Charleston, S.C.. to resume normal domestic and international trade, compliant with Export Administration Regulations and other applicable U.S. law.