Defense Contractor Charged With Making False Statements

SAN DIEGO, CA — A defense contractor who lives in Mira Mesa has been charged by federal authorities for allegedly failing to disclose during required security background checks that he met with and accepted payments from a Chinese national "linked to intelligence services," the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

Shapour Moinian, 66, is accused of meeting with the unnamed Chinese contact starting in 2015, and agreeing to work as a consultant for the woman.

Moinian allegedly used a relative's South Korean bank account to receive payments and regularly updated the contact "on the progress of his work for her."

In the following years, Moinian was working for defense contractors on "various projects, including a high-altitude, unmanned surveillance aircraft used by the U.S. military and various allies," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Despite continued contact with the woman, Moinian allegedly stated on national security background forms that he had not had close contacts with foreign nationals or been asked to work for or consider employment by a foreign national within the past seven years.

Moinian allegedly continued receiving payments from the contact and at one point in early 2018, made several internet searches regarding "sabotage vs. spying," "espionage vs. sabotage" and "selling military information to foreign country is considered as," according to the complaint filed in San Diego federal court.

In 2020, he completed another background check and allegedly lied again on the forms regarding his contacts with foreign nationals, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Moinian was arrested on Friday, during which time he was set to work on a military aircraft being produced for South Korea, prosecutors said. Moinian made his initial court appearance on Monday in San Diego federal court.

— City News Service