Federal agents swept into a lavish $35 million Newport Beach estate before dawn Wednesday, arresting an Iranian-born tech executive accused of secretly funneling American computer equipment to Tehran’s military and nuclear networks, the New York Post reports. Jamshid Ghomi, 63, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen living in Newport Coast, was taken into custody as authorities moved on the sprawling mansion in an exclusive gated community. He faces charges of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and was scheduled to appear later that day in federal court in Santa Ana.
Prosecutors say Ghomi built a lucrative operation supplying sensitive U.S.-origin networking technology to Iran, reaping millions while concealing the transactions through a web of front companies and deceptive practices. “Ghomi is accused of aiding our declared enemies by selling US-origin computer networking parts to Iran and earning millions of dollars in violation of US sanction laws,” federal prosecutor Bill Essayli said, alleging the businessman knowingly armed Iran with critical hardware in defiance of American sanctions.
Authorities say the operation stretched back more than a decade. Ghomi allegedly used a Tehran-based firm he founded, Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh, to obtain restricted equipment and funnel it into Iran. Investigators claim he orchestrated shipments totaling more than 250 tons of controlled technology, often routing goods through a front company in the United Arab Emirates to mask their true destination.
According to federal officials, Ghomi personally negotiated purchases with suppliers in states like Minnesota and Nebraska, then redirected the equipment through Dubai-based intermediaries. He is also accused of using personal eBay and PayPal accounts to quietly acquire additional components that were ultimately shipped overseas in violation of U.S. law.
Inside the alleged scheme, Ghomi and associates reportedly referred to Iran as the “Motherland” in communications tied to procurement efforts. Much of the technology ended up with sanctioned Iranian entities, including companies linked to the country’s military and nuclear infrastructure, prosecutors said.
The early-morning raid unfolded with dozens of armed agents assembling nearby before converging on the cliffside property at 31 High Water. After surrounding the estate’s manicured grounds, officers ordered occupants to come outside. Family members, including Ghomi’s wife and two adult sons, were escorted out as agents entered the residence with tools and evidence containers. An interpreter was brought in to assist with questioning before Ghomi eventually emerged and was taken away in a silver SUV.
Beyond sanctions violations, authorities are examining potential money laundering, tax evasion, and related offenses. Prosecutors allege Ghomi generated more than $10 million annually through his business while reporting no more than $20,000 in income to the IRS, according to The Post.
His most visible asset, now a target for seizure, is the 14,000-square-foot mansion perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. The property features iron gates, ornate tilework, twin fountains, and a grand interior lit by multiple chandeliers.
Essayli emphasized that the arrest signals a broader push to crack down on sanctions evasion tied to Iran, arguing, “Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed.”