On Saturday evening, federal authorities apprehended an Iranian citizen at Los Angeles International Airport. The individual is suspected of orchestrating weapons trafficking on behalf of the Iranian government, according to official statements.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, shared on X that 44-year-old Shamim Mafi, a resident of Woodland Hills, is scheduled for a U.S. District Court appearance on Monday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.
Mafi faces allegations under 50 U.S.C. § 1705, accused of facilitating the sale of Iranian-manufactured drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan, as per Essayli’s comments.
Essayli noted that Mafi holds Iranian nationality and gained lawful permanent residency in the United States in 2016.
If found guilty, Mafi could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
She’s accused of violating 50 U.S.C. § 1705, alleging that she brokered “the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan,” Essayli said.
Essayli said Mafi is an Iranian national, and that she became a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. in 2016.
Mafi could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
