NEWYou can now listen Fox News articles.Federal authorities detained an Iranian woman on Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, claiming she brokered deals for the sale of Iranian-made drones and bombs to Sudan, in violation of U.S. sanction laws. According to a newly unveiled criminal complaint. “Last evening, Shamim Mafi of Woodland Hills was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government,” wrote First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli on Sunday, X. “She has been charged with a violation under 50 U.S.C. SS 1705, for brokering the sales of drones and bombs manufactured by Iran, as well as bomb fuses and millions of rounds ammunition sold to Sudan. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of twenty years in federal prison. Mafi, an Iranian national, became a permanent resident in the United States lawfully in 2016. “ICE ARRESTS RELATIVES OF SLAIN IRANIAN GENERAL SOLEIMANI LIVING IN US AFTER RUBIO REVOKES THEIR GREEN CARDS” According to a redacted member of the Iran Counterintelligence Squad of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Mafi was taken into custody as she was preparing to board a flight from LAX to Turkey. “ICE ARRESTS RELATIVES OF SLAIN IRANIAN GENERAL SOLEIMANI LIVING IN US AFTER RUBIO REVOKES THEIR GREEN CARDSProsecutors say Mafi, granted permanent U.S. residency in California under former President Barack Obama, worked with others on behalf of Iran and was preparing to board an LAX flight to Turkey when she was taken into custody, according to a redacted member of the Iran Counterintelligence Squad of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.The complaint accuses Mafi of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and says she allegedly brokered a contract worth more than $70.6 million for the sale of Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense.Investigators allege she also helped arrange the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese military and multiple ammunition deals, including 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a separate proposed contract for 240 million rounds. “MAFI, a lawful resident of the United States, maintains a home in Woodland Hills, California and travels to Iran, Turkey and Oman frequently,” read the 68-page lawsuit. “As stated below, MAFI carried out her illegal weapons brokerage scheme from multiple locations including the Central District in California. She has a sordid past and ties to Iranian intelligence and government. She has a sordid history and connection to Iranian government and intelligence. According to the FBI affidavit Mafi and co-conspirators used Atlas International Business LLC based in Oman to facilitate the deals and routed payment through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Investigators say this was done to evade U.S. sanction. The complaint states that she was scheduled to leave LAX for Istanbul, Turkey on April 18, and that investigators expected evidence of the alleged plan to be found at her home and on her person.
