IRGC

United States v. Hossein Sedighi and 7 others

Status: Hossein Sedighi: Charged, October 22, 2024; Khalid Mehdiyev: Charged, October 22, 2024; Polad Omarov: Sentenced, October 30, 2025; Rafat Amirov: Sentenced, October 30, 2025; Ruhollah Bazghandi: Charged, October 22, 2024; Seyed Mohammad Forouzan: Charged, October 22, 2024; Zialat Mamedov: Charged, October 22, 2024; Fnu LNU, a/k/a 'Haj Taher': Charged, October 22, 2024

District: Southern District of New York
Docket number: Not matched
Group named in DOJ releases: IRGC
Statutes: Not stated in DOJ release
First DOJ release: October 22, 2024

Primary Sources

Justice Department Announces Murder-For-Hire Charges Against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General and Former Intelligence Officer and Members of an Iranian Intelligence Network, Office of Public Affairs, October 22, 2024
U.S. Attorney Announces Murder-For-Hire Charges Against IRGC Brigadier General And Former Intelligence Officer And Members Of An Iranian Intelligence Network, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, October 22, 2024
Two Eastern European Organized Crime Leaders Convicted Of Murder-For-Hire Targeting U.S.-Based Journalist On Behalf Of The Iranian Government, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, March 20, 2025
Two Eastern European Organized Crime Leaders Convicted of Murder for Hire Targeting U.S.-Based Journalist on Behalf of Iranian Government, Office of Public Affairs, March 21, 2025
Two Russian Mob Leaders Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Murder-For-Hire Targeting a Journalist on Behalf of the Iranian Government, Office of Public Affairs, October 30, 2025
Two Russian Mob Leaders Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For Murder-For-Hire Targeting A Journalist On Behalf Of The Iranian Government, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, October 30, 2025

Status and dates follow these DOJ releases. Docket details from CourtListener (RECAP).

Hossein Sedighi

Status: Charged (DOJ release, October 22, 2024)
From the DOJ release:: BAZGHANDI, HAJ TAHER, SEDIGHI, and FOROUZAN, all of whom are based in Iran, remain at large.
Age: Not stated
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Custody: DOJ describes the defendant as at large

Khalid Mehdiyev

Status: Charged (DOJ release, October 22, 2024)
From the DOJ release:: Mehdiyev’s participation in the plot was disrupted when he was arrested near the victim’s home on or about July 28, 2022, while in possession of the assault rifle, along with 66 rounds of ammunition, approximately $1,100 in cash, and a black ski mask.
Age: Not stated
Charges as described by DOJ: participation in the murder-for-hire plot
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024

Polad Omarov

Status: Sentenced (DOJ release, October 30, 2025)
From the DOJ release:: In March 2025, Amirov and Omarov were found guilty of murder-for-hire, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related charges, following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed yesterday’s sentences.
Age: 39 (per DOJ release of October 22, 2024)
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and possession and use of a firearm in connection with the attempted murder
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Plea or verdict: March 20, 2025
Sentencing: October 30, 2025
Sentence: 25 years in prison and a $500 special assessment (DOJ, October 30, 2025)

Rafat Amirov

Status: Sentenced (DOJ release, October 30, 2025)
From the DOJ release:: In March 2025, Amirov and Omarov were found guilty of murder-for-hire, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related charges, following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed yesterday’s sentences.
Age: 45 (per DOJ release of October 22, 2024)
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and possession and use of a firearm in connection with the attempted murder
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Plea or verdict: March 20, 2025
Sentencing: October 30, 2025
Sentence: 25 years in prison and a $500 special assessment (DOJ, October 30, 2025)

Ruhollah Bazghandi

Status: Charged (DOJ release, October 22, 2024)
From the DOJ release:: BAZGHANDI, HAJ TAHER, SEDIGHI, and FOROUZAN, all of whom are based in Iran, remain at large.
Age: Not stated
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Custody: DOJ describes the defendant as at large

Seyed Mohammad Forouzan

Status: Charged (DOJ release, October 22, 2024)
From the DOJ release:: BAZGHANDI, HAJ TAHER, SEDIGHI, and FOROUZAN, all of whom are based in Iran, remain at large.
Age: Not stated
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Custody: DOJ describes the defendant as at large

Zialat Mamedov

Status: Charged (DOJ release, October 22, 2024)
From the DOJ release:: AMIROV, OMAROV, and MAMEDOV previously were arrested on charges contained in underlying indictments.
Age: 32 (per DOJ release of October 22, 2024)
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and possession and use of a firearm in connection with the attempted murder
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Custody: DOJ describes the defendant as at large

Fnu LNU, a/k/a 'Haj Taher'

Status: Charged (DOJ release, October 22, 2024)
From the DOJ release:: As detailed in the Superseding Indictment, BAZGHANDI, HAJ TAHER, SEDIGHI, and FOROUZAN contracted members of an Eastern European criminal organization, including RAFAT AMIROV, a/k/a “Farkhaddin Mirzoev,” a/k/a “Pᴎᴍ,” a/k/a “Rome,” POLAD OMAROV, a/k/a “Araz Aliyev,” a/k/a “Polad Qaqa,” a/k/a “Haci Qaqa,” and ZIALAT MAMEDOV, a/k/a “Ziko,” to murder a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin in New York City who has publicly opposed the Iranian Government and who has previously been the target of similar plots by the Iranian Government.
Age: Not stated
Charges as described by DOJ: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran
Charged or arrested: October 22, 2024
Custody: DOJ describes the defendant as at large

Cite: Middle East Forum, Islamist Terrorism Prosecutions, "United States v. Hossein Sedighi and 7 others," accessed October 13, 2026, https://cases.meforum.org/case/us-v-sedighi-2024/