Taiwanese man pleads guilty in Fla. to exporting banned missile, drone parts to Iran

Taiwan man pleads guilty in Iran missile case

MIAMI — A Taiwanese businessman has pleaded guilty in Miami to federal charges of conspiring to export items to Iran that can be used for missiles and military drones.

Yi-Lan Chen pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the U.S. embargo against Iran and attempting exports to that country. Each charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, but the 40-year-old Chen likely will receive far less, in part because he is cooperating with U.S. investigators.

Court documents say Chen arranged at least 30 banned shipments to Iran since 2007. The exports included missile engines, spare parts, seals, military-grade electrical connectors and other items.

Chen was arrested in February in Guam and flown to Miami to face the charges.