Executive Summary
- Three San Jose engineers were indicted for allegedly stealing trade secrets from Google and other tech firms.
- Prosecutors claim the defendants transferred sensitive data to unauthorized locations, including Iran.
- Allegations include photographing trade secrets before traveling to Iran and attempting to delete evidence.
- The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for obstruction of justice and 10 years for theft conspiracy.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of California has indicted three Silicon Valley engineers on charges of conspiring to steal trade secrets from Google and other technology firms, allegedly transferring confidential data to unauthorized locations, including Iran. The indictment, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), outlines a scheme involving the theft of sensitive information regarding mobile processor security and cryptography.
The defendants—identified as Samaneh Ghandali, 41; her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32; and Samaneh’s husband, Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40—were arrested on February 19 and made their initial appearance in a federal district court in San Jose. According to prosecutors, the three San Jose residents exploited their employment at major technology companies to access and exfiltrate proprietary data. Samaneh and Soroor Ghandali were formerly employed by Google before moving to a firm identified in court documents as “Company 3,” while Khosravi worked at a separate entity designated as “Company 2.”
The indictment alleges that Samaneh Ghandali transferred hundreds of files, including Google trade secrets, to a third-party communications platform using channels named for the defendants. Prosecutors further claim that prior to a December 2023 trip to Iran, Samaneh Ghandali photographed trade secret material displayed on Khosravi’s work computer. Court filings state that devices linked to the pair subsequently accessed these images and additional company data while they were in Iran.
Following an internal flag of suspicious activity by Google in August 2023, authorities say Samaneh Ghandali denied sharing confidential data. However, the indictment alleges that she and Khosravi later conducted internet searches on how to delete messages and researched the data retention policies of telecommunications carriers. FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani characterized the alleged actions as a “calculated betrayal of trust,” stating that the FBI remains prioritized on protecting groundbreaking technologies that drive the national economy.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Legal Ramifications & National Security Context
This case underscores the Department of Justice’s intensified focus on curbing economic espionage and preventing the transfer of dual-use technologies to foreign nations viewed as adversaries. The charges carry severe statutory penalties: if convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, and up to 20 years for obstruction of justice. This prosecution highlights the legal risks facing industry insiders and the rigorous federal monitoring of intellectual property rights within the semiconductor and software sectors.
