CEO of a New York Company Admits to Violating Iran Sanctions

The CEO of a company in New York accepted three charges on Tuesday related to attempts to illegally export metal powder that can be used in missile production. According to the Associated Press, 44-year-old Ardell Koyamkio admitted in a federal court in Brooklyn to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The U.S. federal prosecutor states that the CEO of 'Global Metallurgy' LLC took actions to export cobalt and nickel powder without obtaining the necessary licenses from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The Associated Press reports that these metal powders can be used in the production of gas turbines, aerospace industries, missile manufacturing, and nuclear programs. The U.S. Department of Commerce has established regulations and guidelines for such metals to prevent their illegal export without licenses. The U.S. federal prosecutor says that Ardell Koyamkio and others were attempting to procure 1,000 pounds of metal powder from a seller in the U.S. and export it to Iran. The federal prosecutor added that Koyamkio and his accomplice planned to first send the shipment to Turkey while concealing the final destination of this metal powder and then transfer it to Iran. The Associated Press states that Ardell Koyamkio is likely to face 20 years in prison and a fine of one million dollars. According to this report, the CEO of 'Global Metallurgy' was arrested on March 1, coinciding with the release of 14 Iranians from U.S. prisons, some of whom were arrested in connection with violations of international sanctions. Ardell Koyamkio is a U.S. citizen.