The investigation identified such DIO fronts as Amin Industrial Group,
Khorasan Metallurgy Industries, Shahid Sayyade Shirazi Industries and Yazd
Metallurgy Industries. At one point, DIO requested 400 gyroscopes and 600
accelerometers, required for long-range missiles, from Limmt.
"Materials may be dual-use, but when they are sent to front companies
set up by the Iranian military, and the defendants use false end-user
certificates and dummy names, there's not much doubt that the use is for
weapons," Morgenthau said. "There is no greater threat to the world today
than Iran's efforts to procure nuclear weapons and long range ballistics
missiles."
The indictment, released on April 7, said the shipments, facilitated by
New York banks, took place between 2006 and 2008. The shipments were said to
have included 15,000 kilograms of a specialized aluminum alloy used in
long-range missile production.
"The Chinese company, known as Limmt, is a major supplier of banned
weapons material to the Iranian military," Morgenthau said. "Limmt's Iranian
military shipments were paid for primarily in euros."
This marked the second time in 2009 that authorities have reported
Iranian efforts to illegally acquire components for missiles and nuclear
weapons from the United States. In January, the London-based Lloyd's paid a
$350 million fine in a settlement with the Manhattan district attorney amid
accusations that the company sought to conceal money transfers to and from
Iran for the purchase of missile and nuclear components.
"Like that investigation, the investigation of Li Fang Wei and Limmt
presents an example of the use of fraud and deceit to access the world's
financial systems, including banks in Manhattan," Morgenthau said.