All cases Maryland defector plot
Section 03 Iran's Long Arm
Murder-for-Hire Plot against a Defector in Maryland
A man in Iran and two Canadians were charged with arranging killers for two Maryland residents, one a defector from Iran. The indictment does not name an Iranian agency; Treasury, the same day, said his network works for Iran's intelligence ministry.
Iran's Role, in the Government's Words
“operates at the behest of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)”
U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. Department of the Treasury,
press release, January 29, 2024, para. 1, home.treasury.gov.
“the Treasury Department took action against Zindashti’s criminal network that targets Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for kidnapping and assassination at the direction of the Iranian regime”
U.S. Department of Justice One Iranian and Two Canadian Nationals Indicted in Murder-for-Hire Scheme,
press release, January 29, 2024, para. 3, justice.gov.
The charging release names no Iranian agency; the agency language comes from the Treasury designation.
People Charged
Photograph: FBINaji Sharifi ZindashtiAt largesince Nov. 30, 2023 “Zindashti currently resides in Iran.”Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nov. 30, 2023- Damion Patrick John RyanChargedsince Jan. 29, 2024 “Ryan and Pearson are currently incarcerated in Canada on unrelated offenses.”U.S. Department of Justice, Jan. 29, 2024
- Adam Richard PearsonChargedsince Jan. 29, 2024 “Ryan and Pearson are currently incarcerated in Canada on unrelated offenses.”U.S. Department of Justice, Jan. 29, 2024
Targets
- two Maryland residents, one a defector from Iran
Private people are described, never named. A target is named only if a public figure who has spoken publicly about the plot.