Office of Public Affairs Member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor United States Department of Justice
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This is archived content from the US Department of Justice website The information here may be outdated and links may no longer function Please contact webmasterusdojgov if you have any questions about the archive site
ppNote A video statement from Department officials is available hereppAn Iranian national and member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC was charged by complaint unsealed today in the District of Columbia with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murderforhire and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plotppAccording to court documents beginning in October 2021 Shahram Poursafi aka Mehdi Rezayi 45 of Tehran Iran attempted to arrange the murder of former National Security Advisor John Bolton likely in retaliation for the January 2020 death of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force IRGCQF commander Qasem Soleimani Poursafi working on behalf of the IRGCQF attempted to pay individuals in the United States 300000 to carry out the murder in Washington DC or MarylandppThe Justice Department has the solemn duty to defend our citizens from hostile governments who seek to hurt or kill them said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division This is not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on US soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these effortsppIran has a history of plotting to assassinate individuals in the US it deems a threat but the US Government has a longer history of holding accountable those who threaten the safety of our citizens said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L Knapp of the FBIs National Security Branch Let there be no doubt The FBI the US government and our partners remain vigilant in the fight against such threats here in the US and overseasppIrans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through the Defendant tried to hatch a brazen plot assassinate a former US official on US soil in retaliation for US actions said US Attorney Matthew M Graves for the District of Columbia Iran and other hostile governments should understand that the US Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to thwart their violent plots and bring those responsible to justiceppAn attempted assassination of a former US Government official on US soil is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M DAntuono of the FBI Washington Field Office The FBI will continue to identify and disrupt any efforts by Iran or any hostile government seeking to bring harm or death to US persons at home or abroad This should serve as a warning to any others attempting to do the same the FBI will be relentless in our efforts to identify stop and bring to justice those who would threaten our people and violate our lawsppAccording to court documents on Oct 22 2021 Poursafi asked Individual A a US resident whom Poursafi previously met online to take photographs of the former National Security Advisor claiming the photographs were for a book Poursafi was writing Individual A told Poursafi that heshe could introduce Poursafi to another person who would take the pictures for 500010000 Individual A later introduced Poursafi to an associate referred to in court documents as the confidential human source or CHSppOn Nov 9 2021 Poursafi contacted the CHS on an encrypted messaging application and then directed the CHS to a second encrypted messaging application for further communications Poursafi offered the CHS 250000 to hire someone to eliminate the former National Security Advisor This amount would later be negotiated up to 300000 Poursafi added that he had an additional job for which he would pay 1 million ppPoursafi directed the CHS to open a cryptocurrency account to facilitate payment but stipulated that the CHS would likely have to carry out the murder before heshe could be paid He further explained to the CHS that if heshe was paid and the murder was not completed Poursafis group would be angry A later search of one of Poursafis online accounts revealed pictures of Poursafi wearing a uniform with an IRGC patch During their communications the CHS made several references to Poursafi being associated with IRGCQF Poursafi never denied his involvement with IRGCQF ppOn Nov 14 2021 the CHS asked Poursafi for help locating the former National Security Advisor Poursafi subsequently provided the CHS with the targets work address in Washington DC According to results from the search of one of Poursafis online accounts on Nov 25 2021 Poursafi took screenshots of a map application showing a street view of the former National Security Advisors office One screenshot noted that the address was 10162 km away which is the approximate distance between Washington DC and Tehran Iran ppOn Nov 19 2021 Poursafi told the CHS that it did not matter how the murder was carried out but his group would require video confirmation of the targets death The CHS asked Poursafi what would happen if the killing was attributed to Iran Poursafi told the CHS not to worry and that Poursafis group would take care of it ppPoursafi also advised the CHS to communicate about the plot in construction and building terms For example when the CHS asked Poursafi to specify how the murder was to be carried out Poursafi told the CHS that he only asked the CHS to build a structure but the method of construction was up to the CHS ppOn Dec 22 2021 Poursafi sent the CHS a photograph of two plastic bags each of which appeared to contain bound stacks of US currency and a handwritten note beneath them that said CHSs name 22122021 ppOn Dec 29 2021 Poursafi asked the CHS when the murder would be carried out and informed the CHS that his group wanted it done quickly ppOn Jan 3 2022 Poursafi noted he was under pressure from his people to complete the murder and that Poursafi had to report any delays The CHS asked Poursafi how many people were involved Poursafi told the CHS that he only had to report to one person but that there was a chain of command to whom his superior reported That same day Poursafi expressed regret that the murder would not be conducted by the anniversary of Qasem Soleimanis death He stated he was concerned that if it was not carried out soon the job would be taken from Poursafi and the CHS Poursafi counseled the CHS that if heshe used a small weapon heshe would have to get close to the target but if heshe used a larger weapon heshe could stay farther away ppOn Jan 18 2022 the CHS sent Poursafi publicly available information that suggested the former National Security Advisor might be travelling out of the Washington DC area during the time Poursafi indicated he would like the CHS to carry out the murder Poursafi told the CHS that he needed to check something Within an hour he told the CHS that the target was in fact not travelling He then provided the CHS with specifics regarding the former National Security Advisors schedule that do not appear to have been publicly available ppOn Jan 21 2022 Poursafi told the CHS that after successful completion of the first job he had a second job for the CHS and informed the CHS that surveillance of the second target was complete Poursafi said the information was gathered from the United States not via Google indicating someone working on behalf of the IRGCQF had already conducted preoperational surveillance on the second target in the United StatesppOn Feb 1 2022 Poursafi told the CHS that if heshe did not eliminate the target within two weeks the job would be taken from the CHS He also informed the CHS that someone checked the area around the former National Security Advisors home and he believed there was not a security presence so the CHS should be able to finish the jobppOn March 10 2022 Poursafi told the CHS he had another assassination job for the CHS in the United States but to keep the former National Security Advisor in the back of your mind Approximately one month later Poursafi encouraged the CHS to accept this offer explaining that if it was done successfully Poursafi would be able to ingratiate himself with his group and regain the tasking to murder the former National Security Advisor ppOn April 28 2022 the CHS told Poursafi that heshe would not continue to work without being paid Poursafi agreed to send the CHS 100 in cryptocurrency to a virtual wallet the CHS created earlier that day to prove payment could be made Later that day the cryptocurrency wallet received two payments totaling 100ppIf convicted Poursafi faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to 250000 for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murderforhire and up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to 250000 for providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot Poursafi remains at large abroadppThis case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office It is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Christopher Tortorice for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Joshua Champagne of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section Assistant US Attorney Jason McCullough provided assistance in the caseppEdward Kelley 36 of Maryville Tennessee was sentenced to life in prison today in the Eastern District of Tennessee at KnoxvilleppThe Justice Department today announced that Noah Lamb 24 was charged in the Eastern District of California in an eightcount indictment for conspiracy soliciting the murder of federal officials andppTwo nationals of the Peoples Republic of China PRC made their initial appearances in federal court in Portland Oregon and Houston Texas yesterday to face charges issued out of theppOffice of Public AffairsUS Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington DC 20530ppOffice of Public Affairs Direct Line2025142007ppDepartment of Justice Main Switchboard2025142000ppSignup for Email UpdatesSocial MediappppHave a question about Government Servicesp
Official websites use gov
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pp
Secure gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
Lock
Locked padlock
or https means youve safely connected to the gov website Share sensitive information only on official secure websites
pp
This is archived content from the US Department of Justice website The information here may be outdated and links may no longer function Please contact webmasterusdojgov if you have any questions about the archive site
ppNote A video statement from Department officials is available hereppAn Iranian national and member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC was charged by complaint unsealed today in the District of Columbia with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murderforhire and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plotppAccording to court documents beginning in October 2021 Shahram Poursafi aka Mehdi Rezayi 45 of Tehran Iran attempted to arrange the murder of former National Security Advisor John Bolton likely in retaliation for the January 2020 death of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force IRGCQF commander Qasem Soleimani Poursafi working on behalf of the IRGCQF attempted to pay individuals in the United States 300000 to carry out the murder in Washington DC or MarylandppThe Justice Department has the solemn duty to defend our citizens from hostile governments who seek to hurt or kill them said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division This is not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on US soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these effortsppIran has a history of plotting to assassinate individuals in the US it deems a threat but the US Government has a longer history of holding accountable those who threaten the safety of our citizens said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L Knapp of the FBIs National Security Branch Let there be no doubt The FBI the US government and our partners remain vigilant in the fight against such threats here in the US and overseasppIrans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through the Defendant tried to hatch a brazen plot assassinate a former US official on US soil in retaliation for US actions said US Attorney Matthew M Graves for the District of Columbia Iran and other hostile governments should understand that the US Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to thwart their violent plots and bring those responsible to justiceppAn attempted assassination of a former US Government official on US soil is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M DAntuono of the FBI Washington Field Office The FBI will continue to identify and disrupt any efforts by Iran or any hostile government seeking to bring harm or death to US persons at home or abroad This should serve as a warning to any others attempting to do the same the FBI will be relentless in our efforts to identify stop and bring to justice those who would threaten our people and violate our lawsppAccording to court documents on Oct 22 2021 Poursafi asked Individual A a US resident whom Poursafi previously met online to take photographs of the former National Security Advisor claiming the photographs were for a book Poursafi was writing Individual A told Poursafi that heshe could introduce Poursafi to another person who would take the pictures for 500010000 Individual A later introduced Poursafi to an associate referred to in court documents as the confidential human source or CHSppOn Nov 9 2021 Poursafi contacted the CHS on an encrypted messaging application and then directed the CHS to a second encrypted messaging application for further communications Poursafi offered the CHS 250000 to hire someone to eliminate the former National Security Advisor This amount would later be negotiated up to 300000 Poursafi added that he had an additional job for which he would pay 1 million ppPoursafi directed the CHS to open a cryptocurrency account to facilitate payment but stipulated that the CHS would likely have to carry out the murder before heshe could be paid He further explained to the CHS that if heshe was paid and the murder was not completed Poursafis group would be angry A later search of one of Poursafis online accounts revealed pictures of Poursafi wearing a uniform with an IRGC patch During their communications the CHS made several references to Poursafi being associated with IRGCQF Poursafi never denied his involvement with IRGCQF ppOn Nov 14 2021 the CHS asked Poursafi for help locating the former National Security Advisor Poursafi subsequently provided the CHS with the targets work address in Washington DC According to results from the search of one of Poursafis online accounts on Nov 25 2021 Poursafi took screenshots of a map application showing a street view of the former National Security Advisors office One screenshot noted that the address was 10162 km away which is the approximate distance between Washington DC and Tehran Iran ppOn Nov 19 2021 Poursafi told the CHS that it did not matter how the murder was carried out but his group would require video confirmation of the targets death The CHS asked Poursafi what would happen if the killing was attributed to Iran Poursafi told the CHS not to worry and that Poursafis group would take care of it ppPoursafi also advised the CHS to communicate about the plot in construction and building terms For example when the CHS asked Poursafi to specify how the murder was to be carried out Poursafi told the CHS that he only asked the CHS to build a structure but the method of construction was up to the CHS ppOn Dec 22 2021 Poursafi sent the CHS a photograph of two plastic bags each of which appeared to contain bound stacks of US currency and a handwritten note beneath them that said CHSs name 22122021 ppOn Dec 29 2021 Poursafi asked the CHS when the murder would be carried out and informed the CHS that his group wanted it done quickly ppOn Jan 3 2022 Poursafi noted he was under pressure from his people to complete the murder and that Poursafi had to report any delays The CHS asked Poursafi how many people were involved Poursafi told the CHS that he only had to report to one person but that there was a chain of command to whom his superior reported That same day Poursafi expressed regret that the murder would not be conducted by the anniversary of Qasem Soleimanis death He stated he was concerned that if it was not carried out soon the job would be taken from Poursafi and the CHS Poursafi counseled the CHS that if heshe used a small weapon heshe would have to get close to the target but if heshe used a larger weapon heshe could stay farther away ppOn Jan 18 2022 the CHS sent Poursafi publicly available information that suggested the former National Security Advisor might be travelling out of the Washington DC area during the time Poursafi indicated he would like the CHS to carry out the murder Poursafi told the CHS that he needed to check something Within an hour he told the CHS that the target was in fact not travelling He then provided the CHS with specifics regarding the former National Security Advisors schedule that do not appear to have been publicly available ppOn Jan 21 2022 Poursafi told the CHS that after successful completion of the first job he had a second job for the CHS and informed the CHS that surveillance of the second target was complete Poursafi said the information was gathered from the United States not via Google indicating someone working on behalf of the IRGCQF had already conducted preoperational surveillance on the second target in the United StatesppOn Feb 1 2022 Poursafi told the CHS that if heshe did not eliminate the target within two weeks the job would be taken from the CHS He also informed the CHS that someone checked the area around the former National Security Advisors home and he believed there was not a security presence so the CHS should be able to finish the jobppOn March 10 2022 Poursafi told the CHS he had another assassination job for the CHS in the United States but to keep the former National Security Advisor in the back of your mind Approximately one month later Poursafi encouraged the CHS to accept this offer explaining that if it was done successfully Poursafi would be able to ingratiate himself with his group and regain the tasking to murder the former National Security Advisor ppOn April 28 2022 the CHS told Poursafi that heshe would not continue to work without being paid Poursafi agreed to send the CHS 100 in cryptocurrency to a virtual wallet the CHS created earlier that day to prove payment could be made Later that day the cryptocurrency wallet received two payments totaling 100ppIf convicted Poursafi faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to 250000 for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murderforhire and up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to 250000 for providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot Poursafi remains at large abroadppThis case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office It is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Christopher Tortorice for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Joshua Champagne of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section Assistant US Attorney Jason McCullough provided assistance in the caseppEdward Kelley 36 of Maryville Tennessee was sentenced to life in prison today in the Eastern District of Tennessee at KnoxvilleppThe Justice Department today announced that Noah Lamb 24 was charged in the Eastern District of California in an eightcount indictment for conspiracy soliciting the murder of federal officials andppTwo nationals of the Peoples Republic of China PRC made their initial appearances in federal court in Portland Oregon and Houston Texas yesterday to face charges issued out of theppOffice of Public AffairsUS Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington DC 20530ppOffice of Public Affairs Direct Line2025142007ppDepartment of Justice Main Switchboard2025142000ppSignup for Email UpdatesSocial MediappppHave a question about Government Servicesp
