Three individuals have been recently indicted on charges of illegally exporting millions of dollars worth of computer-related equipment from the United States to Iran via the United Arab Emirates, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Electronic Engineering Times reported April 25.

One man, a U.S. citizen, and his Queens, New York-based company, Sunrise Technologies and Trading Co., were indicted in Washington D.C. on 27 counts relating to the illegal export of computer-related equipment to Iran without first having obtained the required license from the Treasury Department, according to the DOJ.

He was arrested on a criminal complaint in New York April 6, and had his initial appearance in court in New York April 7. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each of the counts and 5 years for each false statement count, according to the DOJ. Two other men, both U.S. citizens, and their Costa Mesa, California company, Online Micro LLC, were indicted in Washington D.C. on 32 counts relating to the illegal export of computer-related equipment to Iran without the required license from Treasury.

The two were arrested on a criminal complaint in California April 7, and had their initial appearance in court in the Central District of California April 7.

If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine for each of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act counts, and 5 years for each false statement, and 20 years for each obstruction of justice count, according to the DOJ.

In April 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents seized hundreds of laptop computers that originated from Sunrise and were destined for Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Communications related to these shipments indicated the purchasers were located in Iran, according to the affidavit.