4 in Fla charged with bid to sell Iran jet engines
MIAMI (AP) — Federal prosecutors say four family members with ties to Colombia have been charged in Miami with illegally attempting to export 22 engines for jet fighters to Iran.
The prosecutors said Wednesday that Felipe Echeverry of Bogota, Colombia, is charged with conspiring to violate the U.S. embargo against Iran and related counts. Three family members face similar charges.
Court documents say an undercover U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent posing as a broker answered an Internet ad offering jet engines for the F-5 fighter.
The seller was identified as Echeverry. Agents say the engines were stored in a Miami warehouse.
An affidavit says the agent and Echeverry settled on a $320,000 price for the engines.
Three of those charged have been arrested. Prosecutors say Echeverry is believed to be in Colombia.