A dual U.S.-Iranian national and CEO of an Iran-based technology company was arrested June 3 in Santa Ana, California, on a federal criminal complaint charging him with violating U.S. sanctions by acquiring advanced American networking, security, and encryption equipment for Iranian customers, including the regime’s nuclear and military sectors.
Jamshid Ghomi, 63, of Newport Coast, faces a charge of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Ghomi is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
“Ghomi is accused of aiding our declared enemies by selling U.S.-origin computer networking parts to Iran and earning millions of dollars in violation of U.S. sanction laws,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed. We will hold him accountable by seeking an appropriate prison sentence and by seizing his assets, including his $35 million Newport Beach mansion.”
“Today’s arrest reflects our commitment to disrupt the illegal flow of American technology to foreign nations, especially our adversaries. As alleged, Mr. Ghomi spent years exploiting United States financial systems and procurement channels to move controlled equipment to Iran while hiding his activities behind front companies and falsified documentation,” said Darren Lian, Acting Special Agent in Charge at IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office.
According to the affidavit filed with the complaint, Ghomi founded Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd., a Tehran-based computer networking firm that for more than ten years procured American-origin equipment for Iranian clients without obtaining required licenses from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). From 2011 through 2023 he used personal eBay and PayPal accounts as well as intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to route hundreds of shipments into Iran.
The affidavit alleges that between 2014 and 2018 alone Ghomi arranged for over 250 metric tons of networking gear into Iran using Dubai-based freight forwarders who disguised its final destination; he also instructed co-conspirators on how to conceal paperwork linking shipments back to him or FPR.
Records show FPR supplied sensitive end-users such as Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization—sanctioned by the State Department since 2020—and Ministry of Defense with restricted American-made equipment between at least 2014-2023. The complaint further states that proceeds from these sales were laundered through international wire transfers labeled falsely as legitimate business transactions before reaching accounts under Ghomi’s control; some funds were allegedly used toward construction costs for a luxury residence in Orange County.
If convicted on all charges, Ghomi faces up to twenty years imprisonment; he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
IRS Criminal Investigation is leading this case along with support from other federal agencies including Commerce Department investigators. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Lachman from the Major Frauds Section with assistance from national security specialists.
