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 #1What is Naji Sharifi Zindashti's current location and operational structure within Iran or other Middle Eastern countries?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What encrypted messaging platforms and communications were used to coordinate the murder-for-hire conspiracy?
👤
person
Lead #3Who were the hired criminal elements within North America that Zindashti's network recruited?
Naji Sharifi Zindashti is wanted by the FBI for allegedly leading an Iran-based criminal network that conspired to murder two Maryland residents who had fled Iran, using encrypted messaging to coordinate with hired killers in North America between December 2020 and March 2021. The conspiracy involved providing resources to facilitate transnational killing operations targeting individuals within the United States. 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
United States District Court, District of Minnesota; 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.
💡
clue
Lead #4What specific resources and financial mechanisms did the network provide to facilitate the transnational killings?
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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
Criminal network coordination begins
Zindashti's Iran-based criminal network begins using encrypted, Internet-based messaging applications to coordinate murder-for-hire activities
🕵️
2021-03
Conspiracy period ends
Alleged conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in commission of murder-for-hire continues until approximately March 2021
🕵️
2023-12-13
Federal arrest warrant issued
Warrant issued in United States District Court, District of Minnesota 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:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:December 1, 2020
Last Updated:April 29, 2026