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 Zindashti's current location and which country is he operating from?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What encrypted messaging platforms were used to coordinate the murder-for-hire plot?
👤
person
Lead #3Who are the criminal elements within North America that were hired to carry out the killings?
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.
📍
location
Lead #4Why did the two victims flee Iran, and what made them targets for this transnational conspiracy?
💡
clue
Lead #5What resources and funding did Zindashti's network provide to facilitate the attempted murders?
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 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, Internet-based messaging applications to coordinate murder-for-hire activities
📞
2021-03-31
Criminal Network Activity Ends
Alleged conspiracy activities continue until approximately March 2021
🕵️
2023-12-13
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
Federal arrest warrant issued for Naji Sharifi Zindashti in the 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:June 14, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:December 1, 2020
Last Updated:June 14, 2026