Posted on 03/30/2008 10:04:27 AM PDT by nuconvert
Dorset man smuggling parts to Iran, says US
By Patrick Sawer
A British pensioner is at the centre of a worldwide police hunt after being accused by United States authorities of smuggling military parts to Iran.
Brian Woodford, 77, who owns a 17th century manor house and 100-acre estate in Dorset, has been charged in his absence with selling millions of pounds worth of US military and civilian aircraft parts to the Islamic regime in Tehran.
His wife Laura was arrested after arriving at San Francisco on a flight from Hong Kong with two catalogues from a Chinese company that has been described by America as a distributor of "weapons of mass destruction".
The catalogues included details of surface-to-air missile systems and rocket launchers.
Mrs Woodford, 63, remains in custody in New York after being refused bail at a court hearing, during which she was described as a "serious flight risk".
Her wealthy businessman husband, who is said by investigators to be travelling under the name Abdullah, is being hunted across the globe by US law enforcement agencies.
The Woodfords, who ran an export firm shipping aircraft components from America to Singapore, are accused of using their business, Monarch Aviation, to sell military and commercial aviation parts on to Iran.
They are also accused of exporting components for Chinook military helicopters to a company in Tehran, in contravention of US anti-terror laws. The couple also face charges of conspiracy, money laundering and other acts in violation of security laws.
Mr Woodford, who grew up in Dorset and attended the former Hardye's School in Dorchester, had built up a significant business based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Proceeds from the firm allowed him to acquire a string of properties, including Chalmington Manor, near Dorchester, plus a residence opposite Fort Worth's Colonial Country Club golf course and flats in Singapore and Malaysia.
Last night, Mr Woodford's younger brother said that he thought he was now in Singapore.
David Woodford, 75, who lives in a converted barn in the grounds of Chalmington Manor, said: "It is all a bit of a shock. I spoke to him on Friday when he rang me to wish me happy birthday and to see how the estate was here.
"When I spoke to him he was in the Far East in Singapore. My brother claims the accusations against him are rubbish."
Norman Walsh, a caretaker for the Woodfords' properties in Fort Worth, said: "They are nice people. That's all I can say."
But Kenneth Wainstein, a US assistant attorney general, said: "We have a long memory when it comes to those accused of profiting from the trade of sensitive commercial and weapons technology to state sponsors of terror.
"This prosecution and other recent export cases should serve as a warning to others who would jeopardise America's security through illicit transfer of US technology."
Washington requires export licences and government approval for aircraft parts headed for Iran because of what it calls that country's "support of international terrorism".
If found guilty, the couple face life imprisonment.
Ruth Gibbs, who until recently worked as a housekeeper for them, said: "This is the first I have heard about him being in any sort of trouble, I am quite shocked. His wife Laura seemed very pleasant and friendly."
When the couple were living in Texas, they are understood to have spent much of their summers visiting Chalmington Manor. In 2004, they hosted a wedding reception there for two Chinese opera singer friends. More than 60 people flew from around the world to attend the ceremony.
Mr Woodford has three sons and a daughter from a previous marriage. He has been married to his present wife for almost 30 years.
In an interview with his local newspaper, the Dorset Echo, in 2004, he spoke of his fondness for Chalmington, the manor he bought in 1965. It has its own airstrip, where he once kept a collection of aircraft.
The dealer said: "I've spent all my working life abroad but still love Dorset. When you look outside, you don't need a reason to come back."
“Brian Woodford...77...travelling under the name Abdullah”
Good news.
Send this a$$hole and his wife to Gitmo for the duration.
Brian Woodford, 77, who owns a 17th century manor house and 100-acre estate in Dorset, has been charged in his absence with selling millions of pounds worth of US military and civilian aircraft parts to the Islamic regime in Tehran.
His wife Laura was arrested after arriving at San Francisco on a flight from Hong Kong with two catalogues from a Chinese company that has been described by America as a distributor of "weapons of mass destruction".
The catalogues included details of surface-to-air missile systems and rocket launchers.
Middle Eastern terrorists aren’t the only enemies this country faces.
China ping
That's what they all say about monsters. Amazing how our military and powers that be can't be bothered to do background checks on contractors and those they give out top security passes to.
How does a guy like this get a hold of U.S. military hardware to sell to the likes of the Iranians in the first place? Is this part of that international free trade we’re always being told is good for us?
“In 2004, they hosted a wedding reception there for two Chinese opera singer friends. More than 60 people flew from around the world to attend the ceremony.”
The wedding photos give you an idea of the estate and lifestyle:
http://www.mattlink.com/chun/index.htm
She is a U.S. citizen of Chinese descent who is referred to as Wang-Woodford in the indictment (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/30/nwanted130.xml).
He doesn’t look like an Abdullah
A real life James Bond villain. Old arrogant Brit aristocrat proliferating to rogue nations.
But "he can't win", "he opposes totally FREE trade with our enemies" (while they build up their military with our money and so they can sell our technologies to even greater enemies), "he's a kook" yada, yada, yada ..... *sigh*
She's his Chinese controller, no doubt. How'd the Chicoms get their hooks into him in the first place? Or is he a closet Muslim...?
I wonder if there’s any connection between Brian Woodford & Humayun’s case:
Weapons export arrest made in New York
By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press Writer
July 19, 2007
NEW YORK — A Pakistani national was arrested Thursday on allegations he illegally shipped weapons to Malaysia, including fighter jet parts likely to end up in Iran.
Jilani Humayun, 59, was charged with 11 counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry up to 150 years in prison upon conviction.
In court papers, federal authorities said Humayun formed a company, Vash International Inc., in January 2004 to export defense equipment including tanks, guided missiles and rocket launchers.
They said that he used Vash 11 times between January 2004 and May 2006 to export to an unidentified company in Malaysia F-5 and F-14 fighter jet parts and Chinook helicopter parts. ....
I don’t know.
That’s an interesting question.
#
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Woodford+%2B+Humayun&btnG=Google+Search
“Couple accused in Iran case had dark secret, officials say,” By JACK DOUGLAS JR. Star-Telegram Staff WriterPosted on Sun, Mar. 30, 2008, http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/552361.html
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
I see I linked this press release on the link url above:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/February/08_nsd_083.html
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