Taiwanese man faces US prison sentence for exporting banned drone, missile parts to Iran

Taiwanese man faces prison in missile part case

MIAMI — A Taiwanese businessman is facing U.S. prison time for illegal exports of banned missile, drone and other military parts to Iran.

Yi-Lan Chen is to be sentenced Friday in Miami. Chen pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to violate the U.S. embargo against Iran and attempted export of dual-use parts to Iran.

The charges carry maximum 20-year sentences, but Chen likely will get less prison time under federal guidelines.

Chen was arrested in February in Guam in the midst of a one of at least 30 banned transactions to Iran since 2007. Officials say he falsely claimed the shipments were destined for Hong Kong or Taiwan.

Some shipments involved engines that can be used in unmanned drones.