(CNN) Federal Judge Richard Leon in Washington, DC, on Friday ordered Iran to pay Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and his family $180 million for his 544 days in custody.

Iran did not respond to the lawsuit in court, and Leon therefore issued a default judgment in Rezaian's favor. Reznaian spent 18 months in an Iranian prison on alleged espionage charges before being released in January 2016.

His family was awarded $150 million in punitive damages; Rezaian himself was awarded $23.8 million in compensatory damages for pain and suffering and economic losses; his brother Ali Rezaian was awarded $2.7 million; his mother Mary was awarded $3.1 million.

Leon's 30-page ruling details the account of Rezaian's 18 months in custody, torture, lack of legal representation and forced confession, as well as ongoing physical and psychological harm.

"Holding a man hostage and torturing him to gain leverage in negotiations with the United States is outrageous, deserving of punishment, and surely in need of deterrence," Leon wrote.

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