Los Angeles ( ( CNN ) -- Federal agents have arrested a California man who allegedly attempted to export a U.S. military fighter jet to Iran , authorities announced Friday . The arrest followed a seven-month government sting operation , authorities announced . Marc Knapp , 35 , also was charged in a criminal complaint with two felony counts of attempting to export other aircraft parts and controlled technology . Knapp has agreed to plead guilty to the charges , according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kravetz , who is prosecuting the case . According to unsealed court documents , the case began to unfold after `` a cooperating defendant '' in the operation introduced Knapp to an undercover agent . As part of the sting , the agent met with Knapp on several occasions at locations in California , Pennsylvania , Delaware , and Budapest , Hungary , the court papers say . The documents say Knapp broached to an undercover agent the idea of obtaining an F-5B fighter jet from a source in California . Knapp allegedly told the agent that the `` Iranians '' might be interested in the fighter jet and other items , and allegedly said he wlould not be concerned if the jet or the other items ended up in Iran . In July , Knapp allegedly sent a contract for the fighter jet to the undercover agent and demanded a $ 3.25 million purchase price . Knapp was arrested in Delaware in July while negotiating plans to fly the aircraft from California to the East Coast , where it subsequently was to be crated and shipped to Hungary and eventually Iran , the documents state . The Northrop-designed supersonic fighter jet is part of a group of aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and by the Navy and Marines as a stand-in for `` aggressor '' fighters in training exercises . But it has primarily been an export plane sold to other militaries . During their meetings , Knapp also informed the agent that he had various defense parts and allegedly admitted procuring an F-14 ejection seat , which was sold to the agent by another source . Over the course of their interaction , Knapp provided the agent with various lists containing items for sale , including fighter jet emergency manuals , survival radios and antigravity suits , according to court documents . `` Homeland Security Investigations will continue to pursue those who are willing to put America 's national security at risk , '' John P. Kelleghan , special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , said in a news release . `` The export of technology to Iran is prohibited so that our innovations can not be used to harm Americans or our allies . '' If convicted , Knapp would face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $ 2 million fine .
The arrest came after a seven - month sting operation , court papers say . An undercover agent was brought into the case by ` ` a cooperating defendant '' Marc Knapp said he could obtain an F-5B fighter jet for $ 1 million , the papers say . Not to plead guilty , prosecutor said .