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Subscribe to RSSA British millionaire accused of trying to buy missile parts from undercover American agents and resell them to Iran pleaded guilty Thursday in a deal that would carry nearly three years in prison but could allow him to serve much of that time in his native United Kingdom.
Christopher Tappin, 66, a retired shipping magnate, had faced charges of conspiracy to illegally export defense articles, aiding and abetting the illegal export of defense articles and conspiracy to conduct illegal financial transactions.
He pleaded guilty to one count of the indictment Thursday at a hearing in El Paso, Texas. The deal calls for 33 months in prison, but as part of the agreement, prosecutors agreed not to oppose his request to be transferred back to his home country. He had faced up to 35 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge David Briones will decide Tappin's sentence Jan. 9. He has been living in an upscale Houston neighborhood since his release on a $1 million bond in April.
Federal prosecutors said Tappin, of the town of Orpington, southeastern England, and two other men sought to ship zinc/silver oxide batteries for Hawk Air Defense Missiles to Iran via the Netherlands.
Risked US national security
U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman said in a statement that “the defendant put at risk the national security of the United States and its allies by trying to sell to Iran the batteries that make the Hawk Missiles operational."
The federal indictment filed in 2007 said a cooperating defendant provided computer files showing Tappin was involved in the attempted battery deal and that he and the cooperating defendant had illegally sold U.S. technology to Iran in the past.
Complete Mideast & N. Africa coverage on NBCNews.com
The U.S. government alleged Tappin provided undercover agents with false documents to deceive authorities and circumvent the requirement for the batteries to be licensed by the government before being exported.
Tappin's extradition in February touched a nerve in Britain, where many contend the fast-track extradition arrangements between the United Kingdom and the United States are unfairly weighted in Washington's favor.
Iran's regular army has begun two days of ground and air military exercises. Iranian authorities say they want to increase combat readiness and deterrence against attack. NBC's Ali Arouzi reports.
But Tappin's attorney, Dan Cogdell, said Thursday that he didn't see much room for argument.
"He pled guilty because he was guilty," Cogdell said.
Tappin remained free on bond pending his sentencing. Cogdell said he expected Tappin to serve several months in a U.S. prison while authorities decided where to send him.
Western intelligence sees 'small signs of wavering' on Iran nuclear policy
Tappin fought extradition to the United States for two years until being denied a petition to take the case to Britain's Supreme Court. After he was brought to Texas, Tappin was held at the Otero County Jail for about two months, where he initially was put in solitary confinement at his request.
Two men have already been sentenced to prison for charges stemming from the indictment. Robert Gibson, another British national, pleaded guilty in April 2007 and was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Robert Caldwell, from Oregon, was found guilty in July of that year and received a 20-month sentence.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Now if it were one of the 99% we would have been extradited to Gitmo indefinitely, not getting a 36 month retreat at club fed...
The power of green backs at work once again. This guy supplies missile parts to a country that wants to wipe us off the face of the planet, and he gets 3 years in prison, and gets to live it up in Houston before heading back home to go to prison.....wow!
I am hoping this is because the case was weak at best, but I am not optimistic that, that is the case. Iran has made many threats against us and many countries, supplying them with arms should have been considered terrorist activity.
Jason, you're absolutely right. This guy and his accomplices are nothing but terrorists. Just because their motive was for profit should have nothing to do with it, they were still putting their country and ours at risk. I'm sure that money played a big role in the 33 month sentence verses the 30 years he was facing. There are two sets of rules, those for millionaires and billionaires, and those for the rest of us.
Duck, Jason, Kirk,
The 1%'ers, $$$ at work, and a terrorist to boot. What a frilling sweet deal! From 35 years to 33 months. That's 7.85% of the total maximum sentence.
This thing is BS. 3 years?! People go to jail for far less then that and get 5 to 10 years. Hell the guy who was found guilty for software pirating in serving a longer term this this ass!
The woman that taped her child to the wall got 99 years in prison in Texas.
Dont forget she taped her child to the wall and then handed out such a gruesome beating that the doctor said "when I saw the child I thought there was no way this kid is still alive."
Just shows that money talks. I imagine the Iranians are willing to pay almost any price for embargoed military goods.
Nice work by the U.S. agents.
Yes money does talk. Last year an individual with dual Chinese/American citizenship got caught trying to smuggle night vision technology to China and received life in prison. But if you're a rich billionare trying to smuggle missle technology to Iran you only get 3 years that you may not even be required to serve.
Any relation to the Bushes?
Allahu Akbar !!!
jiad jim Speak in English if you are writing on an English site.If you live in the U.S or England you are an enemy muslim terrorist who should be tried for treason for undermining the country.If you live in Iran.I hope you go to a bunker and hold the hands of the ayatollahs when the bombs hit them.What is the "allahu akbar"? Say it in English .I think it must mean something like" kill all non sharia.non jihad infidels whatever religion they are or if they are are not jihad mass murdering MUslims .Hope the FBI or M16 picks you up for supporting terrorism if you live in one ofhose countries. Meanwhile I say goobly gook X&(P^^ F:OG* which makes more sense than your language. and your "allahu akbar" whatever that might mean!
Romney would have pardoned the guy. The rest of us would be in Gitmo right now ....
3 years for selling missile parts to Iran?
I miss the days when we hung traitors.
I am willing to bet this man is related to the Romney's or McCain family
Sentences were too lenient. Should have been tried on smuggling charge they were trying to smuggle parts to Iran.
I am willing to bet that Romney and McCain family were not in-charge of the Department of Justice during the duration of this trial and have absolutely not connection to that at all.
Either millions weren't enough for him (greedy ba$tard) or he needed to play his conspiracy games to add intrique to his life (unimaginative ba$tard).
Or maybe he was a greedy, unimaginative ba$tard who was too stupid to avoid dealing with undercover agents.
I think Iran is looking for a few greedy, unimaginative, stupid ba$tards. Send him there.
Send this idiot to Gitmo with the other terrorists to await his military trial....FOREVER!!!!
So he's been living in an upscale Houston neighborhood since his release on $1 million bond in April, and he was given solitary confinement - at his own request - while he was in Otero County Jail for two months. Gosh, I don't see anything wrong with this scenario. I'm sure they would offer any one of us the same perks if we were to sell arms to Iran.
This guy appeared on BBC TV proclaiming his utter innocence. Who says that crimes does not pay? this guy has made millions out of weapons the US and UK are in war in the Middle East and this guy gets rich with selling weapons. Who are the stupid monkeys here?
This clown obviously considered himself -- and his wealth -- above the law in doing what he did. He should have a fine of about $260 million and have to serve ALL of his time in El Paso.
That is absolutely ridiculous!! He gets 3 years for trying to sell missile parts to Iran but another man got 17 years for wanting to blow up the Pentagon with remote control planes. They both should have gotten the same length of jail time. Actually, trying to sell parts to Iran is almost worse.
Wait for it... The right-wing spin machine is throttling up.
Anybody remember how GW Bush flew immediate family members of Bin Laden out of the US after 911? Other than military aircraft, it was the only other aircraft in the air. Where are the conspiracy theories about Bush being in business with the family who spawned the man who would carry out the most devastating attack on US soil?
I do remember all too well, and had I realized who was on that plane, I would have tried to laser-blind the pilot or fired off a salvo of homemade surface-to-air missiles to bring it down myself or both.
But there are no conspiracy theories - there are documented facts that the bin Ladin and Bush families are long-time business partners. Who do you think they were here visiting when all that went down?
Wow you have "homemade surface-to-air missiles"? cool
Far too easy to make. A length of schedule 40 pipe, sheet steel stabilizers, flash powder charge and solid fuel lift charge. Can easily hit anything flying below 17,000 feet. Think of it as a flying pipe-bomb.
Have I ever fired any? Twice, with FAA approval, and once horizontally, FAA approval not required.
Why make such things? One part proof-of-concept (new solid fuel lift charge for use in military systems and for model rocketry enthusiasts) one part because I know how to do so.
And yes, I have a class 10 FFL and Type 2 FEL.
Reagan did it and didn't go to prison for 3 years.
Look, we all want to put a stop to Iran's desires for a nuke, so I'll be glad to solve the problem once and for all.
I just need one 100 megaton or larger yield nuke, preferably with cobalt casing, a few contacts, the arming instructions and no taxes on what I sell them a fully armed nuclear weapon on slow countdown for.
I'll sting their economy by grossly overcharging them, and when the timer hits zero the nuke goes off, they blow themselves off the face of the earth, and the world is a better place for all.
Should put the creep in Guantanamo for the 3 years. But then I guess it's not much different than us selling our drone technology. It's all about money. And war and the threat of war is what makes the world go around. Just think of all the people that would be out of work if we all loved and trusted one another.
To many Radical Muslims in the UK. To many Muslims in General in Europe.
Europe is the new Pakistan.
I guess this UK Millionaire doesn't have enough money and that is the reason he is selling parts to Iran. You could gather up ALL the Money in the World and give it to a Wealthy man or woman, and it STILL wouldn't be enough for them. Greed, Greed, Greed.
You know, when I read about young minority people being stockpiled away in prisons in record numbers, and I see that the US has the largest prison system in the world...per capita AND in raw numbers, I think "wow...we are a frigging cruel police state"
But then when I read how wealthy white guys are treated with leniency and compassion, I realize just how liberal we really are. ...especially Texas..they're frigging famous there for their leniency and compassion.
BWAHAHAHAHA oh dear...that's funny right there.. I don't care WHO you are...
our country provided WMDs to iraq to use against iran in the 80s, resulting in the death of millions. what is what this guy attempted to do that is so much worse? this irrational, hysterical and baseless war against the persians is an embarrassment to our country. we are making it so they can't provide for or defend themselves; all to please our congress's aipac/israeli masters ...
Johnson/Gray 2012
Death of millions? Where did you get that number? And who backed the Iranians????
"Iran acknowledged that nearly 300,000 people died in the war; estimates of the Iraqi dead range from 160,000 to 240,000."
Bogus story. Iran only want peace. Peace....only peace. No missles....Peace.
This is the most poorly written story I have ever seen on this website.
It doesn't mention that he strongly contends that he is not guilty and had no idea that the batteries could be used in missiles. The only reason he plead guilty was because he faced financial ruin otherwise.
Probably because his plea of not guilty was rendered moot when he was caught with evidence in hand.
I am always glad that these guys get caught, but wonder how many don't.
When you got millions of dollars, what could possibly be your motivation for doing something like this? I mean, the money is probably just a drop in the bucket, is it because he knew that Iran would use the weapons against our allies? to start WWIII or something? When you look at what some billionairs(not all of them) in the US are doing, you have to wonder why? I think this is apart of a bigger picture, I know for a fact some of it is about control, but it's about more than that....a lot more. If I had billions of dollars, I would do all I can to help mankind, not bring mankind down.
Sell drugs = decades in prison
Sell missiles = an extended stay at the location of your choice