WASHINGTON – Federal prosecutors argued Friday that two males charged with impersonating federal brokers had “compromised” Secret Service members assigned to key safety missions and raised extra questions in regards to the journey of one of many suspects to Iran shortly earlier than his alleged involvement within the ruse.
In a brand new courtroom submitting calling for the continued detention of Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, prosecutors mentioned the suspects sought to infiltrate federal legislation enforcement and protection businesses by lavishing items of rent-free flats, smartphones, surveillance programs, a flat-screen tv and various legislation enforcement paraphernalia on their targets.
Extra:Secret Service members placed on go away, tied to scheme offering rent-free flats to feds
Federal authorities additionally seized on Ali’s current journey to Pakistan and Iran as elevating extra and unresolved nationwide safety issues that ought to require his continued detention.
“Ali obtained two 90-day visas from Iran and traveled there twice, not lengthy earlier than the charged exercise started” in February 2020, the courtroom paperwork acknowledged. “Ought to Ali flee to Iran, america can be unable to extradite him again as there may be not at the moment an extradition treaty between america and Iran.”
Prosecutors additionally mentioned Ali’s passport contained three journey visas to Pakistan, including that the suspect advised at the least one witness he had ties to Pakistan’s Inter-Providers Intelligence company.
“Till this declare may be additional investigated, and given the character of Ali’s conduct, particularly impersonating federal legislation enforcement with the intention to ingratiate himself with and infiltrate networks of federal legislation enforcement officers and different federal workers, his declare have to be taken actually and significantly,” prosecutors mentioned.
In accordance with the courtroom paperwork, Taherzadeh advised investigators following his arrest that Ali had supplied the funding for the their operation, which concerned the acquisition of at the least 5 flats, two of which have been allegedly supplied to Secret Service members for at the least a 12 months and valued at greater than $40,000 every.
Taherzadeh additionally allegedly supplied to buy a $2,000 assault rifle for a Secret Service agent assigned to the protecting element of first girl Jill Biden.
The alleged scheme started to unravel final month when authorities started investigating an assault of a U.S. Postal Service letter provider.
Throughout the investigation, witnesses advised authorities that Taherzadeh and Ali, who represented themselves as brokers with Homeland Safety Investigations unit, might have witnessed the assault.
In a short assertion Thursday, the Secret Service mentioned it was cooperating with the “ongoing investigation.”
“All personnel concerned on this matter are on administrative go away and are restricted from accessing Secret Service amenities, gear, and programs,” the company mentioned.
The 2 suspects, each U.S. residents, are due in courtroom later Friday for a detention listening to.
If convicted, Taherzadeh and Ali face a most punishment of three years in jail and fines of $250,000 every.