A story here by Russell Hubbard in the Birmingham Daily News describes the ordeal of Iranian-born US citizen Alex Latifi and his Huntsville, Alabama defense contracting firm, Axion Corporation. After four years of investigations and raids, Latifi and his firm were indicted in 2007 by the US Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama on multiple counts including violating the Arms Export Control Act, despite what appeared to be convincing evidence that his actions did not require federal approval. After seven days of trial last October, US District Judge Inge Johnson dismissed all counts. But the business which once employed 60 is in ruins. Now Latifi has filed a Hyde Amendment claim for compensation; a hearing is scheduled for April 15 and his attorney plans to put USA Alice Martin on the stand.
The government’s notice of Latifi’s aquittal, which Judge Johnson ordered it to post, is here and Martin’s original indictment press release has disappeared from the website. It can still be viewed here.
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