New York jury convicts former top Halkbank executive in helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions

A Turkish banker accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions has been convicted by a jury in New York after a trial that sowed distrust between the two nations. The verdict came Wednesday at a trial where witnesses described corruption at the highest levels of Turkey's government, prompting its leaders to lash out at the U.S. prosecution.
 
The verdict pertained solely to Halkbank executive Mehmet Hakan Atilla, but its ramifications were likely to affect relations between Turkey and the U.S. Atilla was convicted of five counts, including conspiracy. He was acquitted of one money laundering charge. Throughout the month-long trial, Turkish officials spoke out against the prosecution. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called it a U.S. conspiracy to "blackmail" and "blemish" his country, (via the Associated Press).