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Press Release

Taiwanese National Pleads Guilty to Violating U.S. Sanctions on Exportation of Goods to Iran

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

In San Antonio, 44-year-old Kunlin Hsieh (pronounced “SEE-uh”) (aka Kunlin Xia), a sales manager for Junbon Enterprises Co., Ltd. in Taiwan, pleaded guilty this morning to conspiring to ship U.S. communications technology to the Republic of Iran.  That announcement was made by Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge James Spero, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Antonio; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Antonio Division; Special Agent in Charge Janice Flores, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), San Antonio; and, Special Agent in Charge Tracy Martin, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (USBIS), Dallas Field Office.

Appearing before Chief United States District Judge Fred Biery, Hsieh pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transaction and Sanctions Regulations.  By pleading guilty, Hsieh admitted that from October 2007 to August 2014, he conspired with others to obtain electronic parts, namely circuit boards with American-made laminates, from U.S. companies without disclosing to them that the parts were destined for Iran.  These parts had dual-use military and civilian capability and could be used in such systems as missile guidance systems, secure tactical radio communications, and military radar networks.  At no time did Hsieh ever apply for or acquire a U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license to export goods to the Republic of Iran

Hsieh faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine not to exceed $1,000,000.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2015.

Hsieh’s co-defendant, 29-year-old fellow Junbon employee and Latvian citizen Agris Indricevs (pronounced “in-dra-CHEE-vich”) is scheduled for jury selection and trial on August 10, 2015.  Indricevs is charged by indictment with Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transaction and Sanctions Regulations.

Hsieh and Indricevs have remained in federal custody since being arrested by federal authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on August 13, 2014.

This case was investigated by HSI, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the Department of Commerce-Office of Export Enforcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Jay Hulings is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

Updated February 4, 2016