Jamshid Ghomi, a 63-year-old dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, has been arrested under federal charges related to the alleged smuggling of advanced U.S. networking and encryption equipment to Iran’s military and nuclear programs. He serves as the CEO of Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd. (FPR), a company based in Tehran.
Details of the Arrest and Allegations
Authorities claim that Ghomi orchestrated a substantial smuggling operation from 2011 to 2023, utilizing personal eBay and PayPal accounts alongside front companies and freight forwarders based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). His actions reportedly circumvented the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), enabling him to route controlled technology illegally to Iran.
FPR is said to have annual sales exceeding $10 million, with clients that include sensitive state entities within Iran. Prosecutors further alleged that from 2017 to 2023, the company furnished networking equipment to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), which is responsible for Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear activities. Moreover, from 2014 to 2022, Ghomi’s enterprise purportedly supplied security and encryption hardware to Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
To support his lifestyle, Ghomi allegedly laundered over $15 million in Iranian revenue through various shell companies situated in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the UAE, disguising these transfers on his tax returns as ‘foreign inheritances’ or ‘consulting fees.’
Ongoing Investigation and Implications
Despite his lavish lifestyle, exemplified by a custom-built mansion in Newport Coast valued at $35 million, Ghomi reportedly declared minimal income to the IRS—just $20,684 in a peak year—while claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families over seven different years.
The investigation is being led by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, with oversight from the Major Frauds Section for prosecution.
Authorities have highlighted the smuggling operation’s seriousness, pointing to the export of more than 250 metric tons of networking gear between 2014 and 2018 alone. However, the full extent of the breach of national security remains uncertain, particularly concerning how much U.S.-origin technology is currently operational within Iran’s military and nuclear systems.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized that Ghomi’s actions amounted to aiding U.S. adversaries and violated crucial sanction laws. He stated, ‘Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed.’
Ghomi is set to appear in a bail hearing scheduled for Thursday, June 4. Should he be convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years along with the potential seizure of his assets, which include his high-value estate in Orange County.
