NEWPORT COAST — Jamshid Ghomi, a 63-year-old dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, was arrested Wednesday morning in Newport Coast by U.S. officials. He faces charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Ghomi appeared in court on Wednesday and did not enter a plea. His arraignment is scheduled for July 13.
Federal authorities allege Ghomi purchased U.S.-origin networking, security, and encryption equipment in the United States between 2014 and 2018. They further allege he arranged the shipment of more than 250 metric tonnes of this equipment to Iran, routing it through the United Arab Emirates. Investigators claim Ghomi used eBay and PayPal accounts, along with freight forwarders in Dubai, to hide Iran as the final destination of the shipments.
Prosecutors allege a portion of the equipment was sold to Iranian government entities, including the country's nuclear and military establishments. Ghomi owns and serves as chief executive of Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd., a computer networking company based in Tehran. Prosecutors allege his company generated more than $10 million in annual sales while concealing the shipments.
Authorities allege Ghomi purchased a property in Newport Coast in 2010 for nearly $4.5 million and later paid approximately $10.5 million to construct a residence on the property. Authorities also allege Ghomi routed over $15 million in proceeds to himself in California via intermediaries in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates between 2011 and 2024. Federal authorities stated Ghomi was not registered with the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to conduct foreign transactions. Prosecutors allege Ghomi falsely reported these transferred funds to tax regulators as foreign inheritance.
Attorney Bill Essayli said, "Ghomi is accused of aiding our declared enemies by selling US-origin computer networking parts to Iran and earning millions of dollars in violation of US sanction laws." Essayli added, "We will hold him accountable by seeking an appropriate prison sentence and by seizing his assets, including his $35 million Newport Beach mansion." If convicted, Ghomi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.