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RFL/RE – The Turkish-born head of a U.S. metals company was sentenced to 57 months in prison on September 7 for conspiring to illegally export missile-grade metallic powder to Iran.
Erdal Kuyumcu, 45, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York, after pleading guilty in June 2016 to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, court records show.
“We are obviously very disappointed in the court’s sentence today and will be exploring the available options,” said Kuyumcu’s attorney, Patrick Mullin, who had sought a sentence of probation.
Prosecutors said Kuyumcu, the chief executive of Global Metallurgy LLC, conspired to obtain more than 450 kilograms of cobalt-nickel metallic powder, which can be used in aerospace, missile production, and nuclear applications, for export to Iran.
The U.S. government closely regulates the powder, and exporting it requires a license from the U.S. Treasury Department.
According to prosecutors, Kuyumcu, a U.S. citizen of Turkish descent, with a co-conspirator hid the final destination of their powder by arranging for it to be shipped through Turkey before being sent on to Iran.
