Manthena Raja, a businessman of Indian nationality, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by a Newark federal court on Friday. The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to participating in the transfer of $86,500 as payment on the sale of a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile.
The transaction was carried out for 'missile man' Hemant Lakhani, the British arms dealer who was sentenced to 47 years in prison in September. Raja, who has been asked to pay this amount as retribution, was a witness against Lakhani during his trial in April.
Raja faced the possibility of imprisonment between 37 and 46 months for having pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. However, his co-operation in the Lakhani case has helped shorten his sentence.
On Friday, in his first court appearance, Raja admitted before United States District Judge Katharine S Hayden that he had known Lakhani for four years and had helped the transfers, knowing that the arms deal was illegal.
At Lakhani's instruction, Raja had corresponded with a person in New Jersey; the latter was actually working for law enforcement agencies.
In August 2003, Lakhani was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists, unlawful brokering of an arms transaction, money laundering and trying to import merchandise into the US based on false statements.
Raja will begin serving his sentence immediately.
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