An Iranian entrepreneur holding a US Green Card was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for purportedly trafficking weapons on behalf of Tehran, NY Post reported.
Shamim Mafi, 44, from Woodland Hills, was arrested on Saturday evening and faces charges for facilitating transactions involving Iranian drones, explosives, and millions of rounds of ammunition destined for Sudan, as per the office of the US Attorney for the Central District of California.
Mafi shared glamorous photographs of herself globetrotting — including images of her in front of a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz roadster, according to The Post.
Charges against Shamim Mafi
Shamim Mafi is accused of violating 50 U.S.C. § 1705 by facilitating the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition produced by Iran and sold to Sudan, as per F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli.
If found guilty, she could face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016.
She is anticipated to make her initial court appearance on Monday afternoon at the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
