The DOJ unsealed the complaint detailing charges and allegations against three Iranian agents for plotting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad, and two Jewish Americans.
Officials described Farhad Shakeri as an asset to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard (IRGC).
The others charged are Carlisle Rivera, 48, of Brooklyn, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, of Staten Island.
They wanted to avenge Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Quds Force.
Trump’s administration killed Soleimani in a drone strike in 2020.
Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt face the following charges:
Shakeri faces additional charges:
Shakeri remains at large. Officials believe he’s in Iran. He “immigrated to the United States as a child and was deported in or about 2008 after serving 14 years in prison for a robbery conviction.”
From at least in or about December 2023, up to and including at or about the time of filing of this Complaint, in Iran, the Southern District of New York, and elsewhere, and in an offense begun and committed out of the jurisdiction of any particular State or district of the United States, FARHAD SHAKER!, the defendant, and others known and unknown, at least one of whom is expected to be first brought to and arrested in the Southern District of New York, knowingly and willfully combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to violate, and to cause a violation of, licenses, orders, regulations, and prohibitions issued under the IEEPA [International Emergency Economic Powers Act].It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that FARHAD SHAKER, the defendant, and others known and unknown, would and did cause U.S. persons to engage in transactions and dealings in property and interests in property of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the GTSR [Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations], including the IRGC, without first obtaining the required approval of OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control]; and to evade the requirements of U.S. law with respect to transactions and dealings in property and interests in property of the IRGC, in violation of Executive Order 13224 and Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 594.201, 594.204, and 594.205.
The DOJ alleges Shakeri used criminal associates he met in prison “to supply the IRGC with operatives to conduct surveillance and assassinations of IRGC.”
Shakeri asked Loadholt and Rivera to watch Alinejad, who had previously been targeted by the regime and offered them $100,000.
Shakeri told officials he received an assignment to surveil two Jewish Americans in New York. An IRGC official offered him $500,000 “for the murder of either victim.”
In fact, Alinejad addressed the situation on X:
I am here at Berlin to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and. Now I received a phone call from the FBI telling me that they arrested two other killers who were hired by the islamic republic by the same person, Farhad Shakeri, who was assigned to kill and assassinate President Trump. They arrested these two guy because they went in front of my house to kill me.I was invited to go to Fairfield University. The FBI came to my house the same day and warned me not to go. They didn’t explain why, but they told me that there is a minute threat. So the university was aware of the threat as well. They were informed by the FBI, I think, and they canceled the event. The university, when you go to Fairfield University’s website, you will see that I was supposed to be there. But I couldn’t make it.Now I found out why, and it’s shocking because the killers were planning to go at Fairfield University waiting for me, and I don’t know what was in their mind.But I remember what happened to Salmon Rushti, and I know the nature of the Islamic Republic. This is the Islamic Republic nature to get rid of their opponents, to kill anyone who dare to challenge them to criticize this ideology.So I don’t know. I’ve been given a second life. No, third life. The kidnapping plot was foiled by the FBI. The Azerbaijani guy got arrested in front of my house with a loaded gun, AK 47. And now two other killers got arrested by the FBI yesterday. Third attempt. So far.I am very pleased and thankful to the law enforcement of the United States of America that they have charged 15 people. 15 people hired by the Islamic Republic to kill me, and six of them are behind bars in America.That’s why I love my life and I love America, and I love Iranian women who are facing the same killers. The same murderers, but never give up. So whatever I do hurts them really bad that they want to kill me. That makes me more determined to give voice to Iranian women, Iranian men fighting shoulder to shoulder to bring the wall of dictatorship down. We will win this battle.
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