Man pleads guilty to attempting to export technology to Iran

KWQC:

A 54-year-old sales director has pleaded guilty in Chicago to violating a ban on exporting high technology to Iran. Authorities said yesterday that Juan Sevilla of Gardena, California pleaded guilty this week to violating customs and commerce regulations. He faces up to ten years in prison. READ MORE

Prosecutors say Sevilla tried to export a machine used for testing the strength of steel. They say Sevilla attempted to ship the device from California, through Chicago to Iran.

U-S officials say keeping such sensitive technology from falling into the wrong hands is a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security.

Sevilla is the former director of international sales at California-based United Calibration Corporation, which makes the devices.

Neither Sevilla nor the company had authorization to export the machines to Iran.