One of the seven Iranians President Barack Obama offered clemency to this week is an alumnus.

Nader Modanlo received science and engineering degrees from the University, CBS News reported. Mondalo, a naturalized citizen who lives in Potomac, Md. and was born in Iran, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2013 for sanctions violations.

Obama pardoned the seven Iranians as part of a larger prisoner swap that led to the release of four Americans from Iranian prisons. Six of the are dual US-Iranian citizens and were imprisoned or awaiting trial in the United States, the Washington Post reported.

Prosecutors said the 55-year-old Modanlo used his aerospace expertise and connections with Russia to help Iran launch a satellite in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iran trade embargo, the Washington Post reported. He was also convicted of money-laundering and obstruction of bankruptcy proceedings.

In court, Modanlo said he managed space and science programs for private companies, the Department of Defense and NASA.