Las Vegas man says he’s innocent of bid to supply compound

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Henry Joseph Trojack was arrested Friday, along with Abdol Hamid Rashidian of Irvine, Calif. Federal indictments charged the two men conspired to ship chemicals to Iran that could be used to make nerve gas, in violation of the U.S. trade embargo.

The indictment alleges the two tried to negotiate the purchase of about 40,000 pounds of a compound known as impregnated alumina. According to the indictment, impregnated alumina is a chemical used primarily as a catalyst in the plastics and rubber industry. It can also be used to make nerve agents used in chemical warfare.

Trojack, contacted here Wednesday, portrayed a different account of the events leading to his and Rashidian's arrest.

Trojack maintained his innocence, saying when he first met Rashidian he had no idea the man was doing business with Iran. Trojack said he later became suspicious of his business partner.

In October he went to U.S. Customs to inform them that Rashidian had contacts with Iran. He also said he was worried Rashidian might be involved in activities that could prove detrimental to the United States.

Trojack said when he went to the federal government to express his concerns, he soon found himself intimidated by federal investigators.

"I thought I was doing the right thing by going to them," Trojack said. "I thought I was doing the right thing as an American citizen and instead they wrapped me up right in the middle of this mess. I have been used. I have been raped by the American government."

The indictment alleges the pair formed a Nevada corporation called R. & H. International Group Inc., which sold merchandise and goods in the Middle East. According to the indictment, Rashidian was also a partner in Guide Oil Equipment Co. in the United Arab Emirates.

The indictment claims that from December 1995 until Aug. 14, 1996, the two willfully violated regulations of the Iran embargo. The embargo was implemented in 1995 by President Clinton because of suspicions that Iran supports international terrorism.

It is alleged the two obtained a sample of impregnated alumina from an Ohio corporation, then shipped it to the Emirate of Dubai, then on to Iran.

But Trojack, who said he has done extensive contracting work with military agencies in the Middle East, maintains he is the victim in the case. Trojack said once he learned of Rashidian's ties with Iran, he cut off all ties with the Middle East businessman. He then went to the federal government and handed over all his business files.

"I told them I don't know, but I suspect this man is dealing ... with Iran," Trojack said. "They (federal investigators) came into my house and treated me like I was the criminal."

The indictment alleges that on Jan. 17, 1996, Rashidian sent Trojack a list of names identifying one person as working for Iran and another working for the militant Islamic group Hezbollah. Later Trojack and Rashidian had several conversations with an employee of Pacific Gas Transmission Co. in Portland, Ore. concerning the purchase of alumina by R. & H. International for export to the Middle East.

The indictment alleges that in May, Trojack solicited James Ransom of Portland to send him a sample of impregnated alumina. Ransom was identified in the indictment as an undercover special agent of the U.S. Customs Service. Trojack was said to have later told Ransom that the alumina was headed to Iran, and that R. & H. International had several contacts with the Iranian government.