Three engineers from Silicon Valley have been formally charged with the alleged theft of proprietary technology information from Google and other significant tech firms. These engineers are accused of transferring sensitive data to unauthorized locations, including Iran.
Indictment and Court Appearance
The accused individuals, identified as Samaneh Ghandali, Mohammadjavad “Mohammad” Khosravi, and Soroor Ghandali, all residents of San Jose, were recently arrested and made their initial court appearance in San Jose. The charges have been brought forth by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, which claims the group engaged in conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, attempted theft, and obstruction of justice.
Details of the Alleged Theft
The indictment suggests that the engineers, who previously worked for leading tech companies on mobile computer processors, misused their positions to access and steal confidential information. This data allegedly pertained to processor security, encryption, and advanced cryptography. The Ghandali sisters, both former Google employees, and Khosravi, employed by another major processor company, are said to have transferred hundreds of secret files to private communication channels they created.
These channels contained Google’s sensitive trade secrets, which were reportedly copied onto various personal and company devices. The defendants allegedly used manual methods like photographing computer screens to bypass digital surveillance systems. When Google’s security systems detected irregular activities in August 2023, Samaneh Ghandali’s access was revoked.
Continued Access and Legal Proceedings
Despite the revocation, investigations revealed that the defendants continued to access the stolen data and searched for ways to erase or hide digital evidence. Prior to a trip to Iran in December 2023, Samaneh Ghandali allegedly took numerous photographs of confidential data from Khosravi’s employer, which were later accessed from Iran.
The charges against them include conspiracy to commit trade secret theft under 18 U.S.C. § 1832 and obstruction of justice under 18 U.S.C. § 1512. Each trade secret theft charge could result in a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, while obstruction charges may lead to 20 years in prison, along with additional fines. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office in conjunction with the National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The defendants are due back in court on February 20, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen. Stay updated with our coverage on Google News, LinkedIn, and X for more cybersecurity updates.
