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Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Central District of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Dana
Point Man Charged with Scheme to Send Export-Controlled Computer Servers to
Iran
SANTA ANA, California – A Dana Point man has been charged in a recently
unsealed indictment with participating in a conspiracy to procure and illegally
ship export-controlled computer servers to Iran.
Johnny Paul Tourino, 64, was named in a 23-count grand jury indictment filed on
March 7 and unsealed by a federal judge on August 17. Federal prosecutors today
learned that the case had been unsealed.
The indictment accuses Tourino and Spectra Equipment, Inc., which Tourino owned
and operated, with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(IEEPA), which controls and restricts the export of certain goods from the
United States to foreign nations. Tourino and Spectra are also charged with
conspiracy, smuggling goods out of the United States and money laundering.
According to the indictment, from January 2014 through July 2017, Tourino,
Spectra, and at least two others purchased and sent computer servers to Iran
without obtaining licenses from the U.S. government that are required under
IEEPA. The computer servers were dual-use commercial goods, meaning they had
both a commercial application and a military or strategic one. The computers
were controlled by the Commerce Control List for anti-terrorism and national
security reasons.
Tourino allegedly falsely told the manufacturer that the computer servers were
intended for Kuwait and Slovenia, when he knew they were intended for Bank
Mellat, an Iranian financial institution. On one occasion, according to the
indictment, Tourino forwarded an email to the manufacturer after removing
references to “Tehran” and “Iran.”
Under IEEPA, it is a crime to willfully export or attempt to export items to
Iran without a license from the U.S. government. These are items authorities
have determined could be detrimental to regional stability and national
security.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime.
Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in
court.
Tourino was arrested in this case on February 7 and was released on bond.
Following the indictment, he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on March 12.
A trial is currently scheduled for March 5, 2019.
If convicted of the 23 charges in the indictment, Tourino would face up to a
statutory maximum sentence of 430 years in prison, and Spectra would face fines
that could total as much as $13.25 million.
This case is the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI,
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and IRS
Criminal Investigation.
The case against Tourino is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Mark Takla of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section.
Component(s):
USAO - California, Central
Contact:
Thom Mrozek
Spokesperson/Public Affairs Officer
United States Attorney’s Office
Central District of California (Los
Angeles)
213-894-6947
Press Release Number:
18-134
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قیام سراسری مرداد 97 ما بر اندازیم# تهران # قیام دیماه# اعتصاب # تظاهرات# سرنگونی # اتحاد
