Federal Indictment Charges 3 Silicon Valley Engineers With Conspiring To Steal And Transfer Secrets
In the heart of America’s technology corridor, three engineers now face federal charges that read less like a corporate dispute and more like a national security thriller.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of California has indicted three Silicon Valley engineers on accusations that they conspired to steal trade secrets from Google and other advanced semiconductor firms — and transfer sensitive data to unauthorized locations, including Iran. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, outlines an alleged scheme involving processor security, cryptography, and other highly specialized technologies central to modern computing infrastructure.
According to the Justice Department, the defendants — Samaneh Ghandali, 41; Mohammadjavad Khosravi, also known as Mohammad Khosravi, 40; and Soroor Ghandali, 32, all of San Jose — exploited their professional access to extract confidential information. Prosecutors allege the material was transferred to third-party communications platforms, personal devices, and work systems associated with other employers. Some of the data, officials say, ultimately reached locations including Iran.
That last detail significantly elevates the stakes. Advanced semiconductor security and cryptographic systems sit at the foundation of everything from consumer electronics to military-grade communications. The United States maintains strict export controls and sanctions aimed at limiting Iran’s access to precisely these types of technologies. If proven, the alleged transfers would represent more than a breach of corporate trust — they would carry direct national security implications.
The indictment paints a detailed picture of how the alleged activity unfolded. While employed at Google, Samaneh Ghandali is accused of transferring hundreds of confidential files to an external communications platform. Prosecutors allege Soroor Ghandali contributed additional Google materials to the same channels. The data was then allegedly copied to personal devices and to systems connected with other employers.
When Google’s internal security systems detected suspicious behavior and revoked Samaneh Ghandali’s access in August 2023, authorities claim the activity did not stop. Instead, the defendants allegedly continued accessing trade secret materials stored on personal devices. In a particularly striking allegation, prosecutors say that on the night before Samaneh Ghandali and Khosravi traveled to Iran in December 2023, she manually photographed approximately 24 images of Khosravi’s work computer screen containing confidential information.
Federal officials also allege attempts to cover tracks, including submitting false affidavits to companies and deleting communications and records.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani described the alleged conduct as a “calculated betrayal of trust,” underscoring the broader implications for American innovation and economic security.
All three defendants were arrested Thursday and made initial court appearances in San Jose. They are scheduled to return to court on February 20 for identification of counsel. Each trade secret count carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, while obstruction of justice charges could bring up to 20 years.
As with all criminal proceedings, the indictment is an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. But the case serves as a stark reminder that in the age of globalized technology, intellectual property theft is no longer merely a corporate matter. It sits squarely at the intersection of innovation, economic power, and national security.