The person at the center of this case
Two Maryland residents (identities protected)
Cold Case · Open
2 years waiting · since 2023
NAJI SHARIFI ZINDASHTI
Justice for Two Maryland residents (identities protected) — the trail went cold in 2023, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Naji Sharifi Zindashti currently located and what is his operational structure within Iran?
👁️
witness
Lead #2Who were the criminal elements hired within North America and have they been identified or apprehended?
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evidence
Lead #3What encrypted messaging applications and communications were used to coordinate the murder-for-hire plot?
Naji Sharifi Zindashti is wanted by the FBI for allegedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire conspiracy targeting two Maryland residents who had fled Iran. Between December 2020 and March 2021, his Iran-based criminal network used encrypted messaging to hire individuals in North America to carry out the killings. A federal arrest warrant was issued on December 13, 2023, and Zindashti remains at large with suspected ties to Iran, Turkey, and Kurdistan.
Case
#780
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - United States District Court, District of Minnesota
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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 motivated the targeting of these two specific Maryland residents who fled Iran?
📍
location
Lead #5What are Zindashti's known or suspected safe havens in Iran, Turkey, Kurdistan, or the Greater Kurdistan Region?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy To Use Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder-For-Hire Caution: Naji Sharifi Zindashti is wanted for his alleged involvement in criminal activities including the attempted murder for hire of two residents of the state of Maryland. From at least December of 2020, and continuing until in or around March of 2021, Zindashti’s Iran-based criminal network associates allegedly used encrypted, Internet-based messaging applications to hire criminal elements within North America to murder two individuals who fled Iran.
Zindashti’s criminal network also allegedly provided resources to facilitate the attempted transnational killing of a person within the United States. On December 13, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Zindashti in the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, after he was charged with Conspiracy To Use Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder-For-Hire.
Remarks: Zindashti has ties to or may visit Iran, Turkey, Kurdistan or the Greater Kurdistan Region.
Timeline of Events
📞
2020-12-01
Criminal network activity begins
Zindashti's Iran-based criminal network begins using encrypted messaging applications to coordinate murder-for-hire plot
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2021-03-31
Conspiracy period ends
Alleged criminal network activity targeting Maryland residents concludes around March 2021
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2023-12-13
Federal arrest warrant issued
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota issues arrest warrant for Conspiracy To Use Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder-For-Hire
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 1, 2020
Last Updated:May 13, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:December 1, 2020
Last Updated:May 13, 2026