December 3, 2014. Akrivis Law Group, PLLC is pleased to announce that a two-year investigation of its clients Hetran, Inc. of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania and its upstream owner Helmut Oertmann has concluded following charges of conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions on Iran. Notably, Mr. Oertmann received a one-year probation (without any prison time) and he and the company were jointly fined $837,500 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), of which the bulk ($500,000) is suspended.
Hetran, Inc. manufactures sophisticated bar-peeling machines used to carve metal into cylinders for various industrial uses. The company and Mr. Oertmann became the subject of a federal investigation spearheaded by the Office of the U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the BIS following allegations that the company sought to sell one of its machines to a purchaser in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) knowing that the machine would be reexported to Iran. Iran is subject to a very comprehensive U.S. trade embargo prohibiting the trade of most goods, services, and technologies between the two countries. The machine, which was not export-controlled, never arrived in Dubai.
Hetran and Mr. Oertmann’s representation has been spearheaded by Akrivis Law Group’s Managing Partner Farhad Alavi and Partner Teresa Taylor, who worked jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Department of Commerce. Mr. Alavi’s practice covers U.S. trade compliance, with heavy emphasis on Iran sanctions as well as export controls and anti-corruption. He is often quoted in international media on these subjects and presents on this topic in the United States and abroad. Ms. Taylor, a former federal law clerk, has experience in large federal investigations and regularly represents clients on various sophisticated litigation and related matters. The firm represents clients in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Press Release can be found by clicking here.
An article on the matter on the Law360 website can be fond by clicking here.
An Associated Press article on today’s ruling can be found by clicking here.