The person at the center of this case
American aerospace and satellite companies; U.S. citizens whose identities were stolen
Cold Case · Open
5 years waiting · since 2020
IRGC CYBER ACTORS
Justice for American aerospace and satellite companies; U.S. citizens whose identities were stolen — the trail went cold in 2020, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1Where are Said Pourkarim Arabi, Mohammad Reza Espargham, and Mohammad Bayati currently located and what is their current operational status?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific aerospace and satellite companies were targeted, and what critical intellectual property or sensitive data was successfully exfiltrated?
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clue
Lead #3What social engineering techniques and identity theft methods were used to gain initial access to protected computer systems?
Three Iranian hackers allegedly conspired to conduct computer intrusions targeting American aerospace and satellite companies, stealing identities and critical intellectual property at the direction of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The men—Said Pourkarim Arabi, Mohammad Reza Espargham, and Mohammad Bayati—remain at large despite federal indictment in September 2020. Their whereabouts and current activities remain unknown, making this an ongoing cybersecurity and national security concern.
Case
#972
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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contact
Lead #4Were there any intermediaries or accomplices within the United States who facilitated the IRGC-directed cyber operations?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Commit Computer Intrusions; Obtaining Information by Unauthorized Access to Protected Computers; Intentional Damage to Protected Computers; Aggravated Identity Theft; Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Caution: Said Pourkarim Arabi , Mohammad Reza Espargham , and Mohammad Bayati are wanted for their alleged involvement in criminal activities including computer intrusions, identity theft, and wire fraud. These Iranian hackers allegedly conspired to commit computer intrusions targeting American companies in the aerospace and satellite industries.
They allegedly engaged in a coordinated campaign of social engineering that resulted in the theft of United States citizens’ identities, which they then used to steal critical information related to American aerospace and satellite technology and resources, including sensitive commercial information, intellectual property, and personal data. The men allegedly conducted this activity at the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On September 15, 2020, a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in Alexandria, Virginia, indicted the men on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Computer Intrusions, Obtaining Information by Unauthorized Access to Protected Computers, Intentional Damage to Protected Computers, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, and federal arrest warrants were issued.
Timeline of Events
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2020-09-15
Federal Grand Jury Indictment
Federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia indicted Said Pourkarim Arabi, Mohammad Reza Espargham, and Mohammad Bayati on charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, obtaining information by unauthorized access, intentional damage to protected computers, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal arrest warrants were issued.
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:September 15, 2020
Last Updated:May 11, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 15, 2020
Last Updated:May 11, 2026