Int'l Arms Dealer Changes Plea

For decades, an international arms dealer known as the "Field Marshall" has avoided prison time even though a number of countries have tried to bring him down.

All of that changed on Monday after Jacques Monsieur shuffled into the federal courthouse in Mobile. He was wearing a jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and shackles.

Monsieur decided to change his plea a week before his trial is set to start. Monsieur now admits he's guilty of conspiracy.

The U.S. Attorney's office says Monsieur thought he was wheeling and dealing to send F-5 jet engines to the Iranians. Instead, he was actually making the deal with an undercover federal agent in the Port City.

Monsieur was also said to be funneling money through a local bank.

The plea change is a proud moment for Maria Murphy, Chief of the Criminal Division in the Southern District of Alabama. "They did a terrific job of putting a case together on someone who has avoided prosecution for a long time. It's a significant case for Mobile. It's a significant case for this country. Along with our servicemen and women, the technology is one of the most significant assets that protects those people in the war on terror."

Monsieur is a Belgian national, living in France and currently in jail on the Gulf Coast. He will stay here until he's sentenced in June 2010. He could get up 5 years in prison and a 250,000 dollar fine.

After that, he will be deported.

Monsieur's accomplice, Dara Fotouhi, is still on the run.