All cases Shakeri murder plot
Section 03 Iran's Long Arm
IRGC Asset and Two New York Men in a Plot on the Same Journalist
A man in Iran was charged with hiring two New York men to stalk and kill the journalist; the complaint also says he was tasked with planning to kill the then President-elect. Both New York men pleaded guilty.
Iran's Role, in the Government's Words
“on instructions from high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)”
U.S. Department of Justice Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Murder-for-Hire Plot and Stalking a Journalist and Prominent Critic of the Iranian Government,
press release, January 28, 2026, para. 6, justice.gov.
“In 2024, Shakeri was living in Iran and was an IRGC asset.”
U.S. Department of Justice Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Murder-for-Hire Plot and Stalking a Journalist and Prominent Critic of the Iranian Government,
press release, January 28, 2026, para. 8, justice.gov.
People Charged
- Farhad ShakeriAt largesince May 27, 2026 “In 2024, Shakeri was living in Iran and was an IRGC asset.”U.S. Department of Justice, May 27, 2026
- Carlisle RiveraConvictedsince Jan. 28, 2026 “Rivera was hired by his criminal confederate, Farhad Shakeri”U.S. Department of Justice, Jan. 28, 2026
- Jonathan LoadholtConvictedsince May 27, 2026 “Loadholt’s friend and co-defendant, Carlisle Rivera”U.S. Department of Justice, May 27, 2026
Targets
- Masih Alinejad (Interview, NPR Morning Edition, July 15, 2021)
- the then President-elect of the United States
Private people are described, never named. A target is named only if a public figure who has spoken publicly about the plot.