COURT DOC: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Kidnapping Conspiracy Charges Against An Iranian Intelligence Officer And Members Of An Iranian Intelligence Network

DoJ announced the unsealing of kidnapping conspiracy, sanctions violations conspiracy, bank and wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy charges against ALIREZA SHAVAROGHI FARAHANI, a/k/a ‘Vezarat Salimi,’ a/k/a ‘Haj Ali,’ MAHMOUD KHAZEIN, KIYA SADEGHI, and OMID NOORI, and sanctions violations conspiracy, bank and wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and structuring charges against NILOUFAR BAHADORIFAR, a/k/a ‘Nellie Bahadorifar’. BAHADORIFAR was arrested on July 1, 2021 in California on charges contained in an underlying indictment. FARAHANI, KHAZEIN, SADEGHI, and NOORI, all of whom are based in Iran, remain at large.

FARAHANI is an Iranian intelligence official who resides in Iran. KHAZEIN, SADEGHI, and NOORI are Iranian intelligence assets who also reside in Iran. Since at least June 2020, FARAHANI, and the intelligence network he manages including KHAZEIN, SADEGHI, and NOORI have plotted to kidnap a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin (Victim-1) from within the United States in furtherance of the Government of Irans efforts to silence Victim-1s criticisms of the regime. Victim-1 is a journalist, author, and human rights activist, residing in Brooklyn, New York, who has publicized the Government of Irans human rights abuses. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)