A Jamshid Ghomi, a dual U.S.-Iranian national and CEO of a Tehran-based technology company, has been arrested for allegedly shipping U.S.-origin computer parts to Iran in violation of federal sanctions.
NEWPORT COAST, California — Jamshid Ghomi, a 33-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Iran, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he conspired to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran. The arrest was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, which stated that Ghomi was involved in a scheme to supply sophisticated U.S.-origin technology to Iranian military and nuclear entities.
According to the press release, Ghomi is the founder and CEO of Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd. (FPR), a Tehran-based computer networking firm. The complaint alleges that Ghomi utilized FPR to purchase and arrange the shipment of controlled U.S. technology to Iranian customers without obtaining the necessary licenses from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Allegations of Sanctions Evasion
Bill Essayli, the First Assistant United States Attorney, emphasized the gravity of the allegations, stating, “Ghomi is accused of aiding our declared enemies by selling U.S.-origin computer networking parts to Iran and earning millions of dollars in violation of U.S. sanction laws. Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed.” U.S. authorities plan to pursue an appropriate prison sentence for Ghomi and seek the seizure of his assets, including a reported $35 million mansion in Newport Beach.
Darren Lian, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office, stated, “Today’s arrest reflects our commitment to disrupt the illegal flow of American technology to foreign nations, especially our adversaries.” He detailed that Ghomi allegedly exploited U.S. financial systems and procurement channels over a decade, using front companies and falsified documentation to disguise his activities.
The affidavit filed with the complaint outlines Ghomi’s extensive efforts to procure U.S.-origin networking equipment for Iranian customers from 2011 to 2023. He allegedly made hundreds of purchases through online platforms like eBay and PayPal, directing shipments to intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Notably, in 2023, Ghomi negotiated the purchase of equipment directly from suppliers in Minnesota and Nebraska and routed it through a UAE front company.
Significant Quantities of Equipment Shipped
From 2014 to 2018 alone, Ghomi is accused of arranging the smuggling of over 250 metric tons of networking equipment into Iran. The press release asserts that Ghomi took various steps to conceal the true nature of these shipments, including using false documentation and directing co-conspirators to omit his name from shipping paperwork.
FPR’s clientele reportedly included numerous Iranian companies and government entities, many of which are subject to U.S. sanctions. Between 2017 and 2023, FPR supplied U.S.-origin networking equipment to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), which oversees Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. State Department sanctioned AEOI in 2020 for its role in Iran’s violations of nuclear commitments.
Additionally, from 2014 to 2022, FPR is alleged to have provided U.S.-origin equipment to Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which is responsible for overseeing the military’s research and development efforts.
Financial Misconduct and Tax Evasion
The complaint also details Ghomi’s alleged laundering of proceeds from his illegal operations into the United States. He reportedly deposited revenue from Iranian sales into a bank account at a sanctioned Iranian bank and subsequently funneled these funds into his U.S. accounts through a network of trading companies in various countries.
Ghomi is accused of moving more than $15 million from Iran into his U.S. bank accounts from 2011 to 2024, while falsely reporting these funds to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a foreign inheritance. His federal tax returns indicated minimal reported income, with his highest annual income reported at just over $20,000.
Furthermore, Ghomi claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit in seven different tax years while simultaneously reporting significant amounts in mortgage interest and real estate taxes.
Legal Context and Potential Consequences
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) impose strict controls on transactions involving Iran, particularly due to concerns regarding its nuclear ambitions and sponsorship of terrorism. Under these regulations, exports of goods, technology, or services to Iran require explicit authorization from OFAC.
If convicted of the charges against him, Ghomi could face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The investigation is ongoing, with the IRS Criminal Investigation team collaborating with the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
