The person at the center of this case
U.S. aerospace and satellite companies; American citizens whose identities were stolen
Cold Case · Open
5 years waiting · since 2020
IRGC CYBER ACTORS
Justice for U.S. aerospace and satellite companies; American 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
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where are Said Pourkarim Arabi, Mohammad Reza Espargham, and Mohammad Bayati currently located and what is their operational status?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific aerospace and satellite companies were targeted, and how much sensitive technology or intellectual property 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 nationals—Said Pourkarim Arabi, Mohammad Reza Espargham, and Mohammad Bayati—are wanted for allegedly orchestrating a coordinated cyber espionage campaign targeting U.S. aerospace and satellite companies on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The conspirators used social engineering and identity theft to steal sensitive commercial information, intellectual property, and personal data from American defense contractors. Despite federal indictment in September 2020, their whereabouts remain unknown and the full scope of compromised systems and stolen technology has not been fully disclosed.
Case
#972
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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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.
📞
contact
Lead #4Are there additional co-conspirators or IRGC handlers who directed this campaign that remain unidentified?
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timeline
Lead #5How long did the conspiracy operate before detection, and were there earlier or later related cyber campaigns by the same actors?
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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, unauthorized access to protected computers, intentional damage, 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:June 15, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 15, 2020
Last Updated:June 15, 2026