In Brooklyn federal court, charges were unsealed today against Iranian nationals Hossein Akbari and Reza Amidi, along with their company Rah Roshd. The allegations involve conspiracy to procure U.S. technology for Iranian drones, support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and money laundering. Akbari, the CEO, and Amidi, the commercial manager of Rah Roshd, remain at large.
Announcing the charges, John J. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the defendants' alleged attempts to acquire U.S. parts necessary for military UAVs in Iran, bypassing export control laws. "The charges filed today demonstrate the commitment by my Office and our law enforcement partners to dismantle illicit supply chains," stated Durham.
Involved agencies include the FBI and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which sanctioned Akbari, Rah Roshd, and related parties. Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, stated the charges reveal how American technology was funneled into Iran's military. FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia highlighted the alleged conspiracy to obtain U.S. technology for Iranian drones, violating export laws.
Rah Roshd is notable for its procurement and supply of electronic and security systems to the Iranian government. Its clientele includes the IRGC and other state-owned aerospace entities. Between January 2020 and now, Amidi and Akbari allegedly engaged in a scheme to acquire U.S. parts for Iranian UAVs, with at least one component made by a Brooklyn company, Company-1.
The pair allegedly masked their identity, representing different companies including one in the UAE and another in Belgium, using "spoofed" email addresses. The defendants also used shell companies to process payments and conceal identities of sanctioned end users.
Additionally, Akbari and Amidi are accused of supporting the IRGC by supplying drone-related goods and services. This included construction of military infrastructure and provision of drone components. Their correspondence allegedly showed gratitude from the IRGC's UAV Command.
Lastly, the defendants allegedly laundered money through multiple UAE-based shell companies, facilitating sales of components via U.S. bank channels.
The legal proceedings are coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments' Disruptive Technology Strike Force, aiming to thwart illicit technology acquisitions by hostile states.
The case is handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section with Assistant United States Attorneys Nina C. Gupta and Lindsey R. Oken leading the prosecution.
The Defendants:
Hossein Akbari, aka "Danial Yousef" and "Danial White," 63, Iran
Reza Amidi, aka "Ali Rahmani," 62, Iran
Rah Roshd Company, Tehran, Iran
Case docketed as E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-114.
