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U.S. Expands Case Against New York Companies With Iran Bank Ties
By Brian Monroe
printFederal prosecutors said Thursday that they were seeking forfeitures from three New York banks as part of the prosecution of two companies allegedly operating under the control of a sanctioned Iranian bank. The inactive and current accounts-in JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Sterling National Bank-link to Assa Corp. and the Alavi Foundation of New York, two companies secretly controlled by blacklisted, Iran-based Bank Melli, according to a 97-page amended complaint. The asset forfeitures sought total hundreds of millions of dollars and include a Manhattan skyscraper and several mosques. In December, federal prosecutors froze more than $3 million in accounts at JPMorgan...
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