Foreign National from Lebanon sentenced for conspiring to export U.S.-made drill rigs to Iran: DOJ

A foreign national originally from Lebanon was sentenced to 44 months in prison for conspiring to illegally export and smuggle U.S.-made drill rigs to Iran, the Justice Department announced Monday.

“The defendant conspired to export millions of dollars of U.S.-made heavy machinery to Iran, a leading state sponsor of terrorism,” John A. Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for National Security, said in announcing the sentencing. “The National Security Division will find and prosecute those who illegally sell American products to our adversaries.”

Brian Assi, 63, of Beirut, Lebanon, was charged in October 2024, according to the DOJ. He illegally exported and smuggled U.S. goods to Iran without a license, submitted misleading export information and conspired in a money laundering scheme.

Assi was convicted of violating U.S. sanction laws, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, which prohibit unauthorized trade with Iran.

Assi worked as a Middle East-based salesman for an international heavy machinery manufacturer, according to evidence presented at his trial. The company operated a U.S.-based subsidiary and production plant in Alachua, Florida. 

Assi conspired with Iranian individuals to buy two U.S.-origin blasthole drills from the Alachua factory and use an Iraqi distributor to conceal Iranian involvement, according to the DOJ. The drills are used to create holes in the ground to be filled with controlled explosives for mining.

Assi attempted to ship the drills from the U.S. to Turkey to further hide Iranian involvement, disobeying U.S. export control and sanction laws, the DOJ also said. He helped facilitate the transfer of about $2.7 million from Turkey to pass through the United States.