Tagged: Iran Sanctions Program

DOJ Resolves First Corporate Sanctions Case Involving Iran Sanctions Program

Daniela Melendez, a new Associate at The Volkov Law Group, rejoins us for another blog post on DOJ’s first corporate prosecution for violations of the Iran Sanctions Program.  Daniela can be reached at [email protected]. The Justice Department has touted the upcoming wave of corporate prosecutions for criminal sanctions violation as the era of “The New FCPA.” DOJ’s reference is intended to communicate a strong message...

OFAC Settles with Hong Kong Trading Company for $5.2 Million for Violations of Iran Sanctions Program

OFAC is off to a quick start in 2022.  After announcing its Airbnb enforcement action in the beginning of January, OFAC announced a settlement with Sojitz (Hong Kong) Limited, a Hong Kong, China-based company that engages in offshore trading and cross-border trade financing, for $5,228,298 for violations of the Iran Sanctions Program. Sojitz HK violated the Iran Sanctions Program by making U.S. dollar payments through...

OFAC Collects $133k from a US Individual for Violations of Iran Sanctions Program

In May 2019, OFAC released its Framework for a Sanctions Compliance Program.  OFAC announced that it intended to increase the prosecution of individuals for sanctions violations.  OFAC has brought two cases against individuals, and last week settled its third case against an individual since its May 2019 announcement. The latest case involves prohibited transactions with Iran relating to the cement clinker business. The individual, a...

NewTek, Inc., a Software Provider, Settles OFAC Violations for $189,483

The Treasury Department’s Offices of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) continues its enforcement run in 2021, and added yet another tech company to its list of targets. NewTek, Inc. (“NewTek”), a software provider that develops and supplies live production and 3D animations hardware and software, agreed to pay $189,483 to settle 52 violations of the Iran Sanctions Program.  NewTek’s violations arose from its sales to foreign...

Alfa Laval pays over $432K for Violations of OFAC’s Iran Sanctions Program

In two separate enforcement actions, OFAC announced settlements with Alfa Laval Middle East Ltd., a Dubai, UAE company (AL Middle East), and Alfa Laval, Inc., a Virginia-based company (AL US) for violations of OFAC’s Iran Sanctions Program. AL US enlisted its then subsidiary (now operating unit), Alfa Laval Tank, Inc, based in Exton, Pennsylvania (AL Tank), to participate in the scheme.  The Alfa Laval enforcement...

SAP’s Comprehensive Export Control and Sanctions Settlement – A New Compliance Frontier for Cloud-Based Services (Part III of IV)

The Justice Department’s National Security Division used the SAP comprehensive settlement of export control and sanctions violations to send a message – a loud and clear one. As the first real flexing of its Business Organizations Corporate Enforcement policy, the Justice Department underscored that companies that voluntarily disclose illegal conduct, fully cooperate, and implement timely and robust remediation will earn a non-prosecution agreement or deferred...

SAP Reaches Broad Settlement and Agrees to Pay More Than $8 Million for Violations of Iran Sanctions Program (Part I of IV)

In a precedent-setting agreement, the Justice Department, OFAC and the Bureau of Industry and Security announced a settlement with SAP SE for more than $8 million for numerous violations of the Iran Sanctions program. While the Justice Department’s National Security Division (“NSD”) has settled prior export control and sanctions cases against corporations for violations of the North Korea Sanctions program, the SAP case is the...

Avnet Asia Settles Export Control Violations for Illegal Sales to China and Iran

The Justice Department recently announced a settlement with Avnet Asia for illegal shipments of sensitive U.S. commodities to China and Iran.  Under the settlement, DOJ agreed to a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) in exchange for Avnet Asia’s payment of a $1.508 million monetary penalty and continued cooperation. Avnet Asia also agreed to an administrative settlement of approximately $1.72 million to settle claims that it illegally exported...

OFAC On A Roll: Whitford Worldwide Company Agrees to Pay $824k for Violations of Iran Sanctions

When you are hot, you are hot.  (And when you are not, you are not; Thank you Jerry Reed, Country Singer).  OFAC is hot and resumed its enforcement streak, settling three enforcement actions in three weeks.  The latest settlement involved Whitford Worldwide Company (Whitford”), a cookware manufacturer based in Pennsylvania, which agreed to pay $824,314 for violations of the Iran Sanctions.  Whitford’s liability stemmed from...

DOJ and OFAC Announce Another Sanctions Settlement – UniCredit Group Banks Pay Over $1.3 Billion and Subsidiary Bank Agrees to Plead Guilty for Violating Iran Sanctions

The Justice Department and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) are on a roll.  Global banks are facing renewed prosecutions, along with aggressive sanctions prosecutions of companies for integrating acquisitions and supply chain missteps. In the latest billion-dollar plus settlement, UniCredit Bank S.p.A UC Group), based in Milan, Italy and two subsidiaries, UniCredit Bank AG (UCB AG), a German bank (aka HypoVereinsbank),...