Iranian of the Day

AP -- A Texas couple and the head of an Oregon charity secretly sent millions of dollars to an Iranian bank and to a contact in Iran for nine years, violating the U.S. embargo on the Middle East country, according to a federal indictment. The indictment describes an alleged scheme in which the Texas couple got tax exemptions for their donations to the Portland-based Child Foundation charity. The head of the charity, Mehrdad Yasrebi, allegedly funneled money that was meant for food and other assistance to his cousin and to a bank controlled by the Iranian government. A 26-page indictment alleges the Texas couple, Najmeh Vahid and Dr. Hossein Lahiji, conspired to defraud the government and laundered money by purporting to transfer charitable donations to Iran while actually keeping control of the money. Also named in the indictment as a defendant is Ahmad Iranshahi, cousin of Yasrebi and the head of the sister charity started in Iran by the two men and other family members in 1999. Yasrebi was identified as a coconspirator in the indictment but was not charged >>>

Child Foundation Press Release: For 16 years, Child Foundation’s mandate has been to deliver all donations to their intended and appropriate recipients: children in need. Despite the enormous difficulties created by the U.S. and Iranian Governments, Child Foundation is committed to delivering all donated money to needy children as intended by our donors.... We assure our supporters that our organization is strong and healthy in spite of serious challenges posed by Child Foundation’s decision to reach a plea agreement with the U.S. government. The charges involve certain actions of our founder [Mehrdad Yasrebi] that, he admits, did not comply with U.S. law. These problems happened some time ago. Child Foundation’s board, which no longer includes our founder, remains committed to the appropriate and lawful delivery of your donations to their intended destination. With your help, Child Foundation will have the resources to continue its important work >>>