Iranians employed by Google leaked secret material to Iran

Federal grand jury indicts three Iranian nationals who worked for Google after they allegedly stole tech secrets and passed the material on to Tehran.

By World Israel News Staff

Three Iranian nationals formerly employed by Google have been indicted by a federal grand jury after they allegedly stole trade secrets and transferred confidential material to Iran.

On Thursday, Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, and Samaneh’s husband, Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, were arrested and brought before a federal district court in San Jose, California, for the first hearing in their case.

The suspects, Iranian citizens residing in San Jose, worked at several different Silicon Valley tech companies, including Google, according to an indictment filed on Wednesday.

The three are accused of conspiring to steal trade secrets from their employers, using their positions at the three companies to obtain access to information described by the US attorney’s office for the Northern District of California as “confidential and sensitive.”

The stolen trade secrets included documents related to processor security and cryptography, and other digital security technology.

The information was then forwarded to third parties, including Iran.

“As alleged, the defendants exploited their positions to steal confidential trade secrets from their employers. Our office will continue to lead the way in protecting American innovation, and we will vigorously prosecute individuals who steal sensitive advanced technologies for improper gain or to benefit countries that wish us ill,” United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian said.

The indictment alleges that while employed at Google, Samaneh Ghandali transferred hundreds of files, including Google trade secrets, to a third-party communications platform, specifically to channels bearing each of the defendants’ first names.

Soroor Ghandali likewise is alleged to have transferred numerous Google files, including trade secrets, to these channels while she was employed by Google. The trade secrets were later copied to various personal devices and to Khosravi’s work device.

The suspects tried to cover up their theft of confidential materials by submitting falsified, signed affidavits to the tech companies regarding the stolen trade secrets and by purging files from electronic devices, as well as attempting to conceal the methods used to exfiltrate the stolen data.

In December 2023, Samaneh Ghandali and Khosravi traveled to Iran, during which they transferred photographs taken of sensitive documents stolen from one of the companies.

If convicted, each of the three suspects could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, along with up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for obstruction of justice.