Iranian Tech Boss Arrested for Allegedly Supplying US Hardware to Iran's Military
Federal agents conducted a predawn raid on a $35 million mansion in Newport Beach, California, arresting Jamshid Ghomi, a dual citizen of Iran and the US. Ghomi is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by allegedly supplying US computer hardware to Iran's military and nuclear programs. Prosecutors claim Ghomi used a Tehran-based company, Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh, to procure and ship over 250 tons of controlled US technology to Iran, circumventing US sanctions. The operation involved routing purchases through a UAE front company and using platforms like eBay and PayPal for transactions. Ghomi is also under investigation for money laundering and tax evasion, reportedly earning over $10 million annually while declaring minimal income to the IRS.