Dual US-Iranian Exec Arrested Over $35M Iran Export Scheme

A dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and technology executive was arrested at his California home on Wednesday, charged with orchestrating a decadelong scheme to illegally export sensitive American computer equipment to Iran, including to entities linked to the country's military and nuclear programs. Jamshid Ghomi, 63, was taken into custody during a predawn operation at his mansion in Newport Coast.

Ghomi, the founder and CEO of the Tehran-based technology firm Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd. (FPR), faces a federal charge of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors announced they will seek the forfeiture of his assets, including the Newport Coast property valued at approximately $35 million.

According to a criminal complaint, from at least 2011 through 2023, Ghomi allegedly procured U.S.-origin networking, security, and encryption hardware for Iranian clients without obtaining required licenses from the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Authorities allege the operation involved routing equipment through intermediaries and freight forwarders in the United Arab Emirates to...