National Security Division, U.S. Dept of Justice

🚨 Iraqi National Arrested and Charged with Providing Material Support to Iranian-Backed Terrorist Organizations and Directing Attacks Targeting U.S. Citizens and Interests “Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement, this alleged terrorist commander is now in U.S. custody,” said Acting Attorney General @DAGToddBlanche. “As alleged in the complaint, Al-Saadi directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests and to kill Americans and Jews in the U.S. and abroad, and in doing so advance the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These charges show American law enforcement will never let such evil go unchecked and will use all tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders.” 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/iraqi-n…

“Chkhikvishvili, a leader of the ‘Maniacs Murder Cult,’ repeatedly called for the murder of innocent civilians, including children, and schemed to attack and terrorize Jewish communities and racial minorities in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Chkhikvishvili, for example, tried to recruit a supposed associate to dress up as Santa Claus and pass out poisoned candy to minority children. Today’s sentence takes a monster off our streets and protects our communities at least for a time.”

The defendant facilitated entry into the U.S. by other Iranian Nationals, including an individual affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “Gohari made a business of smuggling aliens into the United States, at least one of whom had ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization. I applaud the investigators and prosecutors who made possible today’s plea, taking this defendant off our streets.” -Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/new-yor…

The mayor of Arcadia, California, has been charged in federal court with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Justice Department announced today. “Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/arcadia…

Four Defendants Convicted in Plot to Kill Haitian President Jovenel Moïse “These defendants conspired to replace and ultimately to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moïse,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Using U.S. soil as a staging ground for a violent plot overseas is a grave violation of our laws and, more fundamentally, our sovereignty. We commend the investigative and prosecution team for their exceptional work.” Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/four-de…

Two U.S. Nationals Sentenced for Facilitating Fraudulent Remote Information Technology Worker Schemes to Generate Revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea “These sentences hold accountable U.S nationals who enabled North Korea’s illicit efforts to infiltrate U.S. networks and profit on the back of U.S. companies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These defendants helped North Korean ‘IT workers’ masquerade as legitimate employees, compromising U.S. corporate networks and helping generate revenue for a heavily sanctioned and rogue regime. The National Security Division will continue to pursue those who, through deception and cyber-enabled fraud, threaten our national security.” 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/two-us-…

Federal Jury Convicts ISIS-K Terrorist for Role in the Abbey Gate Bombing and Other ISIS-K Attacks 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/federal…

Xu Zewei (徐泽伟), 34, of the People’s Republic of China was extradited to the United States this weekend and appeared today in U.S. District Court in Houston on a nine-count indictment related to his involvement in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021. 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/prolifi…

Chinese National Arrested at JFK International Airport on Federal Charges for Illegally Photographing Military Aircraft at Nebraska Air Force Base “Any individuals who unlawfully attempt to acquire sensitive information about military aircraft located in the District of Nebraska will be held maximumly accountable under federal law,” said @USAO_NE U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese…

A Chicago man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) by using social media to encourage attacks on ISIS’s enemies and recruit ISIS members. 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/chicago…

Two U.S. Nationals Sentenced for Facilitating Fraudulent Remote Information Technology Worker Scheme that Generated $5M in Revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea “For years, the defendants enriched themselves by assisting North Korean actors in a fraudulent scheme to gain employment with U.S. companies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The ruse placed North Korean IT workers on the payrolls of unwitting U.S. companies and in U.S. computer systems, thereby harming our national security. NSD will hold accountable those who facilitate North Korea’s illicit revenue generation efforts.” 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/two-us-…

Pakistani National Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Commit Isis-Inspired Attack at Jewish Center in New York justice.gov/opa/pr/pakista…

🚨Former Army Employee and Top Secret Clearance Holder Arrested and Charged with Leaking Classified National Defense Information “Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “That they do so is critical to the security of our Nation. When clearance holders violate that trust, the National Security Division will act swiftly to hold them accountable.” Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/former-…

Justice Department Conducts Court-Authorized Disruption of DNS Hijacking Network Controlled by a Russian Military Intelligence Unit 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/justice…

Reporting Voluntary Self-Disclosures of Violations of National Security Laws Under the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy justice.gov/opa/pr/reporti…

Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Online Neo-Nazi Group that Exploited Children into Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material “This guilty plea exposes the depravity of CVLT, a criminal enterprise that systematically targeted vulnerable children, coerced them into producing abuse material, and threatened to destroy their lives if they resisted,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/man-ple…

Chinese National and Two U.S. Citizens Charged with Conspiring to Smuggle Artificial Intelligence Technology to China “The cutting-edge AI chips the defendants allegedly schemed to export to China represent the best of American ingenuity and years of strategic investment in maintaining our technological leadership,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg. “NSD is committed to protecting U.S. innovation and ensuring that those who violate U.S. export controls face serious consequences.” 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese…

Three Charged with Conspiring to Unlawfully Divert Cutting Edge U.S. Artificial Intelligence Technology to China “The indictment unsealed today details alleged efforts to evade U.S. export laws through false documents, staged dummy servers to mislead inspectors, and convoluted transshipment schemes, in order to obfuscate the true destination of restricted AI technology—China,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “These chips are the product of American ingenuity, and NSD will continue to enforce our export-control laws to protect that advantage.” 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/three-c…

Justice Department Disrupts Iranian Cyber Enabled Psychological Operations “Terrorist propaganda online can incite real-world violence — thanks to our National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, this network of Iranian-backed sites will no longer broadcast anti-American hate,” said @AGPamBondi. “Our cyber assets will remain ever-vigilant to root out and deactivate networks that pose a threat to American citizens.” 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/justice…

🚨TWO ISIS SUPPORTERS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO DETONATE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES DURING PROTESTS OUTSIDE GRACIE MANSION Avowed ISIS supporters Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi attempted to detonate two devices containing shrapnel and highly volatile explosive material during a protest and counter-protest outside the Mayor of New York's residence. Great work @SDNYnews @NYPDnews @FBINewYork! 🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/two-isi…