California Tech Executive Arrested for Smuggling US Technology to Iran

Jamshid Ghomi, a California-based technology executive, has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly smuggling advanced US networking and encryption equipment to Iran's military and nuclear sectors. The 63-year-old dual citizen is accused of running a scheme that involved using personal accounts and front companies to illegally transport controlled technology without necessary licenses. Prosecutors claim he laundered millions of dollars and reported minimal income despite owning a mansion valued at $35 million. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and asset forfeiture.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 3, 2026, 23:58 IST

Overview of the Arrest

Jamshid Ghomi, a technology executive based in California, has been apprehended on federal charges for allegedly running a long-term operation to smuggle advanced US networking and encryption technology to Iran's military and nuclear sectors. The 63-year-old, who holds dual citizenship in the US and Iran and resides in Newport Coast, was arrested following a federal complaint that accuses him of conspiring to breach the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Prosecutors assert that Ghomi is the CEO of Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd. (FPR), a technology firm in Tehran with annual revenues surpassing $10 million, reportedly serving sensitive Iranian government clients.

Details of the Smuggling Scheme

Allegations of a Decade-Long Operation

Federal investigators claim that from 2011 to 2023, Ghomi utilized personal accounts on eBay and PayPal, along with various front companies and freight forwarders in the UAE, to illegally obtain and transport controlled US technology to Iran without the necessary licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). It is alleged that FPR supplied networking equipment to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) from 2017 to 2023, which is responsible for overseeing Iran's uranium enrichment and nuclear initiatives. Furthermore, between 2014 and 2022, the company is said to have provided security and encryption devices to Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

Financial Irregularities and Legal Consequences

Authorities assert that Ghomi managed the shipment of over 250 metric tons of computer networking equipment into Iran via Dubai from 2014 to 2018. In 2023, he reportedly negotiated direct purchases from suppliers in Minnesota and Nebraska, routing the equipment through a front company based in the UAE. The complaint also indicates that Ghomi laundered more than $15 million in Iranian revenue into the US through shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the UAE, disguising these transfers as "foreign inheritances" or "consulting fees" on tax documents.

Despite building a custom mansion in Newport Coast valued at around $35 million, Ghomi allegedly reported minimal income to the IRS, with his highest annual income recorded at just $20,684. Investigators also claim he claimed the federal Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families over seven tax years.

The investigation is being conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit and the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, with prosecution led by the Justice Department's Major Frauds Section. Ghomi is set to appear in federal court in Santa Ana, facing a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted, along with the possibility of asset forfeiture, including his mansion in Orange County.