AP: A scientist convicted of violating a trade embargo after his family in Iran sent him $3.4 million was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in prison by a judge who noted that the defendant did not support terrorism or funnel money to Iran's government. Mahmoud Reza Banki, 34, winced when his sentence was announced, and numerous spectators among his more than 50 supporters cried openly or wiped tears. Banki had faced up to 25 years in prison after he was convicted in June, but even federal prosecutors conceded that the unusual aspects of the case meant that Banki deserved a reduction from the more than five years in prison that sentencing guidelines recommended. The case drew fresh attention to an informal banking system known as hawalas, which rely on wire transfers, couriers and overnight mail and the dangers they may pose to the U.S. The judge has signed an order requiring Banki to forfeit the $3.4 million. Banki's attorney Baruch Weiss said Banki will appeal his conviction and the forfeiture order >>>
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تا دیگه از این غلطا نکنه
David ETWed Aug 18, 2010 03:42 AM PDT
خیال میکنن اینجا هم ایرانه
Young Iranian Tycoon
by Nader Vanaki on Tue Aug 17, 2010 03:43 PM PDTHe was on his way to become a tycoon and now he is a candidate to become a tycoonpareh. Another tycoonpareh is Hassan Namazi who also got convicted in NY.
Still a lot of money
by MRX1 on Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:53 AM PDTEven with shrinking dollar value and worthless rial, 3.5 million is still a lot of money. Not that I object captialism or any thing, but I am curious myself as to how how he got this much.
Maziar the way I read it the $3.5M was deposited in Iran already
by Anonymouse on Tue Aug 17, 2010 08:08 AM PDTI think this was one of those deals where you'd get paid in Dollar here in US and your contact would pay you in Iran in Rials.
It used to be that they advertised these transactions in Iranian newspapers and Iranian yellow pages. Since 2001 these practices were banned and the ads stopped.
Looks like the deal went through and the court just ordered him to forfeit his $3.5M which is he is going to appeal. So someone got $3.5M in Iran who is not going to forfeit and the Government made money too. Seems weird!
Everything is sacred
..
by maziar 58 on Tue Aug 17, 2010 08:00 AM PDTas I feel sorry for the incarceration of my hamvatan in this golden land; By opening several Bank of America accounts in different countries as it said
He should know that all trnsactions will be reported to one final destination......
If wiring $$$$ from Iran has no regulations and.....
America does and wants to freez it .
BAD AVARDEH RA BAD BORD. Maziar
Kazem0574
by Maryam Hojjat on Tue Aug 17, 2010 07:15 AM PDTI guess I was only looking at my small world. Thanks.
Maryam, Its not a lot when considering some house/villa prices
by kazem0574 on Tue Aug 17, 2010 06:04 AM PDT3.4 Million will get you a nice Villa in some parts of the Khazar coast line (Shomal) and a reasonable house in a good part of Tehran.
3.4 Million Dollars! Where his family got This money?
by Maryam Hojjat on Tue Aug 17, 2010 05:25 AM PDTI am just wondering!