Iranian appeals sentence in plot involving U.S. arms

WILMINGTON - An Iranian national who pleaded guilty to plotting to ship sensitive U.S. military technology to Iran is appealing the five-year prison sentence he received this month.

An attorney for Amir Hossein Ardebili filed the notice in federal court yesterday.

Ardebili could have been sentenced to up to 140 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that include conspiracy, money-laundering, smuggling, and arms export-control violations.

He was arrested in the Republic of Georgia in October 2007 and extradited in January 2008 on smuggling and arms-export violations.

Federal officials say the case is an example of Iran's efforts to evade export controls and acquire military technology.