In a significant development, Ray Hunt, a 70-year-old resident of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to export U.S.-origin goods to the Iranian regime in violation of trade sanctions. Hunt, who also goes by the aliases Abdolrahman Hantoosh, Rahman Hantoosh, and Rahman Natooshas, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
According to court documents, Hunt registered Vega Tools LLC with the Alabama Secretary of State in May 2014, listing the nature of the business as “the purchase/resale of equipment for the energy sector.” However, beginning in 2015, he conspired with two Iranian companies located in Tehran, Iran, to illegally export U.S.-manufactured industrial equipment for use in Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical industries.
To avoid detection by U.S. authorities, Hunt engaged in a series of deceptive practices. He used third-party transshipment companies in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and routed payments through UAE banks. He also lied to shipping companies about the value of his exports to prevent the filing of electronic export information to U.S. authorities.
Furthermore, Hunt lied to suppliers and shippers by claiming the items he purchased on behalf of the Iranian co-conspirators were destined for end users in Turkey and UAE, while knowing the exports were ultimately destined for Iran. He even lied to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers regarding the nature and existence of his business when questioned upon his return from a March 2020 trip to Iran.
Hunt’s guilty plea is a significant victory for the U.S. Department of Justice, which has been working to enforce trade sanctions against Iran. The case highlights the importance of complying with U.S. export laws and regulations, and the consequences of violating them.
A federal district court judge will determine Hunt’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge is five years in prison.
This case serves as a warning to individuals and companies that violate U.S. trade sanctions, and demonstrates the U.S. government’s commitment to enforcing these laws and protecting national security interests.
