Bel Air man arrested, accused of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran in $2.4 million scheme

LOS ANGELES — A Bel Air man was arrested Tuesday on federal charges alleging he and two Iranian nationals violated United States sanctions against Iran by illegally sending to that nation digital and gift cards loaded with about $2.4 million.

Kambiz Eghbali, 50, also known as “Cameron Eghbali,” a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, is charged with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Eghbali pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Los Angeles federal court and was granted release on $250,000 bond. A tentative trial date of Dec. 3 was scheduled.

Hamid Hajipour and Babak Bahizad, both Iranian nationals charged in the indictment, remain at large.

“Restrictions on exports and transactions with countries that are hostile to the United States, such as Iran, are critical to protecting our nation,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “Nothing is more important than protecting our country from foreign threats and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who undermine our national security.”

From March 2014 through September 2019, Eghbali and others allegedly conspired to unlawfully send digital and physical gift cards loaded with U.S. dollars to Iran, prosecutors said.

Eghbali would list his company, a North Hills-based purported video game wholesaler and distributor, as the seller of the gift cards, and would provide cards to Bahizad for the benefit of his Iran-based gaming company, and to Hajipour for the benefit of his mobile software application service company, according to the indictment unsealed Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors contend Bahizad and Hajipour would then pay Eghbali for the cards by transferring money from Iran to Eghabli’s U.S.-based bank accounts using third parties in other countries to conceal the transfer from U.S. regulators.

The IEEPA and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism, officials have said.

If convicted, the defendants potentially face 20 years in prison for violations of the IEEPA, 30 years for bank fraud violations, and 20 years for money laundering violations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit all property alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.