Two Individuals Charged For Acting as Illegal
Agents of the Government of Iran
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Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Columbia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 20, 2018
Two
Individuals Charged For Acting as Illegal Agents of the Government of Iran
WASHINGTON – An indictment was returned today charging Ahmadreza
Mohammadi-Doostdar, 38, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, 59, an
Iranian citizen and resident of California, with allegedly acting on behalf of
the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran by conducting covert
surveillance of Israeli and Jewish facilities in the United States, and
collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals
who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
The charges were announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security
John Demers, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia, and
Acting Executive Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s National
Security Branch.
“The National Security Division is committed to protecting the United States
from individuals within our country who unlawfully act on behalf of hostile
foreign nations,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Doostdar and
Ghorbani are alleged to have acted on behalf of Iran, including by conducting
surveillance of political opponents and engaging in other activities that could
put Americans at risk. With their arrest and these charges, we are
seeking to hold the defendants accountable.”
“This indictment demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice to
hold accountable agents of foreign governments who act illegally within the
United States, especially where those agents are conducting surveillance of
individuals and Constitutionally-protected activities in this country,” said
Jessie K. Liu, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
“This alleged activity demonstrates a continued interest in targeting the
United States, as well as potential OPPOSITION groups located in the United
States,” said Acting Executive Assistant Director McGarrity. “The FBI will
continue to identify and disrupt those individuals who seek to engage in
unlawful activity, on behalf of Iran, on US soil.”
The indictment charged Doostdar and Ghorbani with knowingly acting as agents of
the government of Iran without prior notification to the Attorney General,
providing services to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, and
conspiracy. Both defendants were arrested on Aug. 9, pursuant to criminal
complaints issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia. Those complaints were unsealed today.
According to the indictment, in or about July 2017, Doostdar traveled to the
United States from Iran in order to collect intelligence information about
entities and individuals considered by the government of Iran to be enemies of
that regime, including Israeli and Jewish interests, and individuals associated
with the MEK, a group that advocates the overthrow of the current Iranian
government.
On or about July 21, 2017, Doostdar is alleged to have conducted surveillance
of the Rohr Chabad House, a Jewish institution located in Chicago, including
photographing the security features surrounding the facility.
On or about Sept. 20, 2017, Ghorbani is alleged to have attended a MEK rally in
New York City, during which he photographed individuals participating in the
protest against the current Iranian regime. In or about December 2017,
Doostdar returned to the United States from Iran and made contact with Ghorbani
in the Los Angeles area. During the meeting, Doostdar paid Ghorbani
approximately $2,000 in cash and Ghorbani delivered to him 28 photographs taken
at the September 2017 MEK rally, many of which contained hand-written annotations
identifying the individuals who appeared in the photos. These
photographs, along with a hand-written receipt for $2000, were found concealed
in Doostdar’s luggage as he transited a U.S. airport on his return to Iran in
December 2017.
The indictment also alleges that Ghorbani traveled to Iran in or about March
2018, after informing Doostdar that he would be going to Iran to conduct an
“in-person briefing.” Thereafter, on or about May 4, Ghorbani attended
the MEK-affiliated 2018 Iran Freedom Convention for Human rights in Washington,
D.C. During the course of the conference, Ghorbani appeared to photograph
certain speakers and attendees, which included delegations from across the
United States. On May 14, Doostdar called Ghorbani to discuss clandestine
methods Ghorbani should use in order to provide this information to Iran.
Ghorbani is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing in the U.S. District
Court for the District of Columbia at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, before the
Honorable G. Michael Harvey.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years; the maximum
penalty for acting as an agent of a foreign power is ten years; and the maximum
penalty for a violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is
20 years. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is
provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, a
defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory
Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation into this matter
was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Los Angeles Field
Office. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security Section of the
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterintelligence
and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department
of Justice.
Attachment(s):
Download
doostdar_signed_criminal_complaint_affidavit_pii_redacted_003.pdf
Download
ghorbani_signed_criminal_complaint_affidavit_pii_redacted_003.pdf
Topic(s):
National Security
Component(s):
National Security Division (NSD)
USAO - District of Columbia
Press Release Number:
18-225
Updated August 20, 2018
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