13th Feb 2008
FORT WORTH -- A judge has denied bond to a woman accused with her husband of illegally selling aircraft parts to Iran through their Singapore company.
A federal magistrate in New York deems 63-year-old Laura Wang-Woodford of Fort Worth to be a flight risk. That's after she pleaded not guilty during an arraignment this month. Her 77-year-old British-born husband Brian Woodford remains on the loose.
A 20-count indictment charges the couple with conspiracy, money laundering and acts in violation of national security laws. It alleges the Woodfords exported commercial aircraft parts from the United States to their company, Monarch Aviation, in Singapore. They then allegedly shipped the parts to Tehran, Iran, without a U.S. export license.
The couple also is accused of illegally shipping to Iran components to build Chinook military helicopters.
The United States requires export licenses for aircraft parts headed to Iran because of what the State Department calls Iran's "support of international terrorism." Prosecutors contend the sales originated in Fort Worth; Kansas City, Missouri; and Bridgeport, Conn.
