Man charged in graphite case

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | June 21 | Jason Cato

[PghBaldy]

An engineer/salesman from India was charged Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh with conspiring to ship graphite products to the United Arab Emirates that possibly could be used for nuclear or military purposes.

Manoj Bhayana, 39, of Green Tree, is charged with conspiracy. Federal authorities say from December 2003 through September 2004, Bhayana worked with another person and three companies -- all unnamed -- to conceal the origin of the graphite products sent to a trading company in the Middle Eastern country.

[PghBaldy]

I will be interested to know the names of the companies and the person mentioned above.

[GSlob]

There must be more to it than it sounds. He could have sourced graphite from aluminum industry [say, in China] - they use very large quantities of it for electrodes.

[Al Gator]

Green Tree shinanigans. First time for me to hear this!

But then, I'm just podunk from Plum.

[Abathar]

I was just going to say I have several hundered pounds of the stuff here for my EDM machines, I machine that stuff all day long and didn't know we can't export it.

[edpc]

conspiring to ship graphite products to the United Arab Emirates that possibly could be used for nuclear or military purposes.

[PghBaldy]

Graphite can also be used for missiles, according to the Iraq Survey Group: Iraq sought items such as fuel for propellants and graphite, a key component in reentry vehicle nose tips, directional vanes, and engine nozzle throats. Iraq’s need for graphite-related products was heightened following severe damage inflicted during Operation Desert Fox to the Shahiyat Missile Facility, a known graphite production facility...An Indian affiliated, UAE-based firm was also used as an intermediary to facilitate trade in graphite and ballistic missile-related goods from Chinese firms. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/2004/isg-final-report/isg-final-report_vol1_rfp-04-02.htm

[baltodog]

Graphite is, of course, used extensively in aircraft.

Wonder what the exact details are...?

Could he be a purchasing agent for a certain helicopter company there in Pennsylvania?

[PghBaldy]

IIRC, there was a Mosque or a paper HQ'ed in GreenTree years ago. It was extremist, and talked of using airplanes as missiles before 9/11. AHH - it was a school in Greentree, with links to local Muslim paper. The terror rats are everywhere. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_84613.html

[Bob]

IIRC, graphite was used extensively in the construction of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor and burning graphite posed major problems during the containment and cleanup operations.

[martin_fierro]

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[PghBaldy]

Here's more: Prosecutors said that in December 2003, a company sold graphite products through Bhayana to companies identified as SIC and SGI, and the graphite was then sold to a UAE firm. Prosecutors said Bhayana was an engineer and salesman at SGI. http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-39/115086689470460.xml&storylist=penn

[ClearCase_guy]

I believe we had a recent thread (yesterday?) that mentioned graphite rods coated with Tantalum which were associated with Iraq. I believe the Tantalum is highly corrosive-resistant (useful when in contract with uranium hexafluoride).

A number of posters indicated that finding evidence of such material was pretty solid evidence of a WMD program.

I'm no metallurgist, so I apologize if I'm misrepresenting or misspelling anything. I don't know if there's any connection, but I saw "graphite" and "UAE" together and that's what popped into my mind.

[Centurion2000]

Considering how much oil the UAE has, why the hell would they need someone to send CARBON to them of all people?

[Bob]

Considering how much oil the UAE has, why the hell would they need someone to send CARBON to them of all people?

Just a guess - perhaps UAE was just a trans-shipment point. Producing a significant amount of graphite themselves might have been too difficult to hide or deny.

[PghBaldy]

My first thought was the same- UAE is just a port. It probably was going somewhere else. The thread on the graphite was the Rush Limbaugh Live thread of June 19th. I'd search for it again, but I keep getting "500 Error(s)"

[PghBaldy]

See post #11. From link there: Bhayana told The Associated Press he works for Spare Global Inc., which sells spare parts and materials. He said SGI's parent company is Green Tree-based Sherman International Corp

[Thinkin' Gal]

An engineer/salesman from India was charged Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh with conspiring to ship graphite products to the United Arab Emirates that possibly could be...

... Jew pencils?

[PghBaldy]

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-14412.htm

Gov't rules on export of graphite

[highimpact]

My new driver (golf club, not chauffer) has a graphite shaft. I can't wait to tell the boys that I'm going nuclear off the tee box!

[spunkets]

These are components for making graphite fiber reenforced parts.