Jamshid Ghomi, a dual U.S.-Iranian national and CEO of a Tehran-based technology company, has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a decade-long scheme to illegally funnel sensitive U.S. networking and encryption technology to Iran's nuclear and military programs. Prosecutors accuse Ghomi of laundering more than $15 million in proceeds from these illicit operations into the United States, using the funds to build a $35 million mansion in Newport Coast, California, while reporting an annual income as low as $20,684. The Department of Justice announced his arrest on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, following a comprehensive investigation.
The alleged scheme, active from at least 2011 to 2024, involved Ghomi's company, Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh (FPR), supplying U.S.-origin equipment to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) from 2017 to 2023, and to Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics between 2014 and 2022. "As alleged, Ghomi enriched himself by supplying U.S. technology to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and other sanctioned entities responsible for Iran’s nuclear program," stated Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. According to court documents, FPR's annual sales exceeded $10 million, with a significant portion going to sensitive Iranian entities.
Prosecutors detail that Ghomi allegedly laundered over $15 million from Iran into U.S. accounts through a complex network of shell companies and intermediaries in locations such as the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the UAE. These funds were reportedly disguised with false descriptions like "Buying Goods" or "For Consulting Fees." This illicit financial activity enabled Ghomi to construct his opulent Newport Coast residence, despite claiming minimal income on his tax returns, including receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit in multiple years.
Ghomi faces charges including conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering. These charges stem from U.S. sanctions and export controls designed to prevent the proliferation of sensitive technology to countries like Iran, particularly concerning its nuclear and military ambitions. If convicted, Ghomi could face substantial prison sentences and the forfeiture of assets, including his Newport Coast mansion, as prosecutors have indicated.
The case underscores the U.S. government's commitment to enforcing sanctions and disrupting illicit networks that undermine national security. "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," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. The full extent of U.S. technology currently operating within Iranian military and nuclear systems as a result of Ghomi's alleged actions remains under investigation.
