A U.S. judge is expected to sentence a British businessman who pleaded guilty to trying to buy missile parts and resell them to Iran.

Christopher Tappin is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge David Briones in El Paso on Wednesday.

The 65-year-old Tappin pleaded guilty in November in a deal that calls for a 33-month prison sentence. The agreement opened the door for him to serve part of his sentence in Britain near his ailing wife.

Tappin's extradition to the U.S. in February 2012 touched a nerve in Britain, where many believe extradition arrangements with the United States are unfairly weighted against British citizens.

After his extradition, Tappin spent several weeks in a New Mexico jail and was later released on bail. He has since lived in Houston.