3 1/2-year sentence ordered in Iran missile part case

AP: A Taiwanese businessman has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in U.S. prison for illegal exports of banned missile, drone and other military-grade parts to Iran.

The Associated Press

By CURT ANDERSON

MIAMI (AP) — A Taiwanese businessman has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in U.S. prison for illegal exports of banned missile, drone and other military-grade parts to Iran.

A Miami federal judge sentenced 40-year-old Yi-Lan Chen on Friday. Chen pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to violate the U.S. embargo against Iran and attempting to export hardware with military applications.

Chen faced a potential maximum of 20 years behind bars. U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan gave him credit for immediately admitting guilt and showing remorse.

Chen was arrested last February in Guam, trying to execute one of at least 30 banned transactions to Iran since 2007. He falsely claimed the shipments were destined for Hong Kong or Taiwan.