The person at the center of this case
Multiple victims: approximately 144 U.S. universities, 176 foreign universities, 5 U.S. government agencies, 36 U.S. private companies, 11 foreign private companies, and 2 international NGOs
Cold Case · Open - Wanted by FBI
8 years waiting · since 2018
MOSTAFA SADEGHI
Justice for Multiple victims: approximately 144 U.S. universities, 176 foreign universities, 5 U.S. government agencies, 36 U.S. private companies, 11 foreign private companies, and 2 international NGOs — the trail went cold in 2018, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1How did Sadeghi maintain operational security while conducting intrusions against 300+ institutions across multiple countries?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific proprietary data was stolen and what was its intelligence or commercial value to Iranian entities?
📞
contact
Lead #3Who were Sadeghi's direct supervisors and contacts within the Mabna Institute and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps?
Mostafa Sadeghi is wanted by the FBI for his alleged role in a sophisticated international cybercrime conspiracy that targeted over 300 universities, government agencies, and private companies across the United States and 21 foreign countries. Working as a contractor and hacker for Iran's Mabna Institute, Sadeghi allegedly obtained unauthorized access to computer systems, stole proprietary data, and sold it to Iranian customers including universities and government entities at the direction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Despite a federal indictment issued in February 2018, Sadeghi remains at large in Iran, making his apprehension dependent on international cooperation and extradition efforts.
Case
#868
Iran (suspect residence); United States and 21 foreign countries (victim locations)
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; 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.
👤
person
Lead #4What other hackers or contractors worked alongside Sadeghi in this conspiracy, and have they been identified or apprehended?
💡
clue
Lead #5What digital forensics or intelligence led to identifying Sadeghi's role, and can similar techniques locate him or his associates?
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 Hacking; Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Computer Fraud - Unauthorized Access for Private Financial Gain; Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft Caution: Mostafa Sadeghi is wanted for his alleged involvement in criminal activities, including obtaining unauthorized access to computer systems, stealing proprietary data from those systems, and selling that stolen data to Iranian customers such as Iranian universities and the Iranian government. Sadeghi was a contractor and hacker for hire for the Mabna Institute , a private government contractor based in the Islamic Republic of Iran that performed this work for the Iranian government, at the behest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Victims of the scheme included approximately 144 universities in the United States, 176 foreign universities in 21 countries, five federal and state government agencies in the United States, 36 private companies in the United States, 11 foreign private companies, and two international non-governmental organizations. On February 7, 2018, a grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York indicted Sadeghi on computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges, and a federal arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Remarks: Sadeghi is known to speak Farsi and resides in Iran.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2018-02-07
Federal Indictment Issued
A grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York indicted Mostafa Sadeghi on charges of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, computer fraud with unauthorized access for private financial gain, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A federal arrest warrant was issued.
Case Information
Incident:February 7, 2018
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:February 7, 2018
Last Updated:April 29, 2026