Opinion ID: 775511
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Conviction on Count 5--Violation of the IEEPA

Text: 42 Count 5 of the indictment charged that on or about June 16, 1997, Reyes did knowingly and willfully export and attempt to export from the United States to Iran through Geneva, Switzerland, certain goods, namely aircraft component parts . . . all in violation of Title 50, United States Code, Section 1705(b), 18 U.S.C. &#167 2, 31 C.F.R. &#167 &#167 560.203, 560.204, and Executive Orders 12957 and 12959. The government was required to establish that Reyes willfully attempted to export goods to another country, knowing the ultimate destination was an embargoed country, without a license. 50 U.S.C. &#167 1705(b); 31 C.F.R. &#167 560.203-204, issued pursuant to Executive Order 12959, &#167 1(b) and 1(g), 60 Fed. Reg. 24757, 15 C.F.R. &#167 785.4(b)(2), 15 C.F.R. &#167 787.5(b). 43 Reyes contends that the government failed to present sufficient evidence to establish his knowledge that the June 16, 1997 shipment to Texam was destined for Iran, but his argument ignores the substantial evidence presented by the prosecution. During Agent Heyer's interview with Reyes on June 19, 1997, he acknowledged that he was aware of the illegality of shipping parts to a customer who in turn forwarded them to an Iranian destination, and he falsely stated that he had never been told by anyone, and had no reason to suspect, that shipments sent to Texam Holding were subsequently being forwarded to Iran. The government also introduced a document faxed to Siraj on March 3, 1997, from Texam's Swiss bank, bearing the notation F/A Iran Aircraft Industries, Tehran, Texam Holding Ltd., Geneva, and referencing Texam's payment for a shipment to Texam. Another damaging piece of evidence introduced against the defendant was a fax from Texam to its Swiss bank (and on which Siraj was copied) dated May 19, 1997, containing a re line reading Air shipment from Geneva/ Switzerland to Tehran/Iran. The government also offered evidence through the use of expert computer forensics testimony demonstrating that the fax machine at Siraj received two faxes in December, 1996, (again from Texam to its Swiss bank and on which Siraj had been copied) containing a re line stating Air shipment from Geneva/Switzerland to Tehran/Iran. Further, Debra Martell testified that Texam was Reyes' personal client, that he was the only Siraj employee authorized to speak on the telephone with Bani, and, importantly, that all incoming faxes from Texam were to be delivered to and handled exclusively by Reyes. 44 Viewed in the light most favorable to the government, and making all reasonable inferences in its favor, Neville, 82 F.3d at 757, we hold that when considering the totality of the evidence offered by the prosecution, it was sufficient for the jury to find that Reyes attempted to export parts to Texam without a license and that he had knowledge that the aircraft parts would be forwarded to Iran, in violation of the IEEPA. Reyes' challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction on Count 5 of the indictment is without merit.