Farhad Shakeri, an Iranian national, along with Carlisle Rivera and Jonathon Loadholt from New York, have been charged in connection with a plot to murder a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin. Rivera and Loadholt were arrested recently in New York, while Shakeri remains at large in Iran. Both appeared in the Southern District of New York and were detained pending trial.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran’s assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray added that "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a designated foreign terrorist organization — has been conspiring with criminals and hitmen to target and gun down Americans on U.S. soil."
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York emphasized the seriousness of these actions: “Actors directed by the Government of Iran continue to target our citizens, including President-elect Trump, on U.S. soil and abroad.”
The complaint alleges that Shakeri used his criminal network within the United States for surveillance and potential assassinations targeting critics of the Iranian regime. The group reportedly attempted to locate a vocal critic residing in the U.S., known as Victim-1.
In recorded interviews with law enforcement agents, Shakeri admitted being tasked by IRGC officials with planning attacks on high-profile targets, including President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Shakeri faces charges related to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, money laundering conspiracy, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization among others. These charges carry penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison.
The investigation is led by the FBI's New York Field Office with assistance from other federal agencies. Prosecutors involved include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob H. Gutwillig and Michael Lockard among others.
A complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.