Individual Charged With Brokering Uranium Deal Intended For Supply To Iran

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), announce today that Patrick Campbell, 33, of Freetown, Sierra Leone, was arrested yesterday in Queens, NY as a result of an investigation conducted by the ICE-HSI. Campbell made his initial appearance earlier today in the Eastern District of New York.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida, Patrick Campbell was charged with brokering the supply of goods which the defendant knew were destined and intended for supply to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Title 50, United States Code, Section 1701, 1705 and the Iranian Transaction Regulations, 31 CFR 560.416, 560,204 and 560.203. If convicted, Campbell faces a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release, and a possible $1,000,000 fine.

The criminal complaint alleges that on August 21, 2013, Campbell traveled to the United States from Sierra Leone and brought with him a sample of uranium, concealed in the soles of the shoes in his luggage, which he believed was to be provided to a representative of individuals seeking to obtain uranium for supply to Iran.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI, the Port Authority of New York and the New Jersey Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Walleisa.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Attachment:

Patrick Campbell Complaint (PDF)

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.