PORTER, Texas — A 76-year-old Montgomery County man faces federal charges alleging he's been smuggling aircraft parts to Iran for nearly four years.
The feds say Gholam Reza Goodarzi aka Ron Goodarzi smuggled parts and components used in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft from the U.S. to Iran, a hostile country.
“Smuggling aircraft parts into Iran endangers U.S. national security by potentially enhancing Iran's military capabilities, enabling them to advance their aerial combat potential, increase regional power and threaten U.S. allies and interests in the Middle East,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Goodarzi is a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen who lives in Porter.
He was arrested on Aug. 30 at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
According to court documents, Goodarzi committed the crimes from Dec. 1, 2020, through July 5, 2024.
The feds say he purchased aircraft components from U.S.-based suppliers and then exported them to Iran, usually through Dubai, UAE.
They say he also traveled to and from Iran multiple times a year and concealed aircraft parts and other items in his checked luggage. The complaint alleges that authorities searched Goodarzi’s luggage several times and found aircraft parts and components hidden inside clothing.
“Illegally smuggling sensitive U.S. technology to a foreign nation jeopardizes our national security and undermines the integrity of our trade laws,” said Robert Wells, FBI Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch. “The U.S. does not tolerate illegal smuggling of our advanced tech to our adversaries,
Goodarzi also exchanged multiple emails with suppliers and customers, acknowledging that parts could not be shipped to Iran because of sanctions, according to the USAO.
If convicted, Goodarzi faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice.
