Owens Cross Roads man pleads guilty to conspiracy to export goods to Iran

BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WHNT) — An Owens Cross Roads man has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to export U.S. goods to Iran in violation of trade sanctions against the country.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that Ray Hunt, 70, of Owens Cross Roads has pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to export U.S. origin goods to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to the DOJ in May of 2014, Hunt registered Vega Tools LLC with the Alabama Secretary of State as a business to purchase and resale energy sector equipment. Justice officials said he operated the business to buy, receive and ship U.S., goods from locations in Madison County.

The DOJ said beginning in at least 2015 Hunt conspired with two Iranian companies to illegally export U.S.-manufactured industrial equipment to Iran. The department said Hunt used several deceptive practices to hide these exports including using third-party transshipment companies from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and routing payments through UAE banks.

Authorities said Hunt also lied to shipping companies about the value of the exports to avoid filing electronic export information to U.S. authorities. He also lied to suppliers and shippers saying the products were meant for customers in UAE and Turkey. The DOJ said Hunt also lied to customs officials upon a return from a March 2020 trip to Iran.

Hunt faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

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