Convicted in U.S. of violating Iran sanctions, brothers adopt new identities in Ontario
sentenced in Michigan in the fall of 2021 for using shell companies to illegally export sensitive manufacturing equipment to Iran, where they were born.They then returned to Ontario, where they had lived prior to their arrests, and applied to change their names to Ameen and Aurash Cohen. The province granted their requests in April 2022.At the time they altered their identities, they were still serving out part of their sentences — a one-year period of supervised release, a form of parole, government records show.Using his new name, Arash Yousefijam, 36, became a registered dentist and went to work in Ottawa as Dr.
Aurash Cohen. The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario said it was looking into the matter.Meanwhile, his brother, 37, took a job as a compliance officer at an international company in Richmond Hill, Ont.
Property records show an Ameen Cohen bought a home in the city in 2022.The province issued Amin Yousefijam’s name change certificate although he was not a Canadian citizen and the Canada Border Services Agency was in the process of deporting him for dodging sanctions on Iran.The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, which oversees name changes, has not yet responded to questions about the matter.Under Ontario law, those applying to change their names must provide details of their criminal convictions, and cannot seek new identities for an “improper purpose.”Despite his new moniker, Amin Yousefijam did not elude the CBSA, which has now sent his case to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a deportation order.Hearings to decide whether he should be deported are to begin on Oct. 28.
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