Alexander Nooredin Latifi

Alexander Nooredin Latifi is the owner of Axion Corporation, a defense contracting firm based in Huntsville, Alabama.

Indictment
On March 28, 2007, Latifi and Axion Corporation were indicted on five federal counts by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Alice H. Martin, following an investigation by Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The indictment alleges that in
*In September 2003 and continuing thereafter, Latifi and Axion Corporation exported defense articles (technical drawings of the bifilar weight assembly for the UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter to overseas manufacturers without first obtaining the required license and authorization from the State Department, which is required by law.
*On or about February 19, 2004, Latifi and Axion Corporation and made a fraudulent representation to the U.S. Army concerning an aircraft part in connection with a military contract. Specifically, the defendants represented to the U.S. Army that certain parts were provided by Tungsten Products of Madison, Alabama, when that company was not the supplier.
*On or about January 2004, Latifi and Axion Corporation and Latifi knowingly submitted a false document to the government in connection with a military contract involving a tank part. Specifically, the defendants submitted "First Article Test Reports" which falsely stated that Industrial Fabrications Co., Inc., had conducted testing, when the defendants knew that the test reports were false and the testing had not taken place before a specific date.

Counts four and five of the indictment seek forfeiture of any assets and property derived from the offenses alleged in the indictment, including real property at 317 Nick Fitchard Road NW, Huntsville, Alabama, where Axion Corporation is located, as well as $659,280 and all interest and proceeds derived therefrom.

The maximum penalty for exporting defense articles without a license is ten years' imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000 or both, and a term of supervised release of three years. The maximum penalty for fraud is fifteen years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $500,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of three years. The maximum penalty for filing false documents is five years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of three years supervised release.

The prosecution in the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David H. Estes, Angela Redmond Debro, and James D. Ingram of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama, as well as Trial Attorney Mariclaire Rourke from the Counterespionage Section of the United States Department of Justice National Security Division.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu