Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali FBI Impersonator Arrested
3 min read
The FBI has arrested two men Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 36, who they say posed as Homeland Security agents for years.
During an arraignment hearing on Thursday, prosecutors said one of the two false Homeland Security officials who duped Secret Service members into taking costly gifts and penthouse apartments boasted of his ties to Pakistan’s spy agency.
When cops invaded the posh Crossing Apartments in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood on Wednesday night, Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 36, were arrested. They were accused of impersonating a federal officer without authority.
#Breaking Prosecutors say one of the men arrested for impersonating federal agents had visas to Pakistan and Iran and claimed a connection to Pakistani intel agency ISI. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/tzF5AQOOQs
— Bruce Leshan (@BruceLeshan) April 7, 2022
The FBI alleges the pair spent two years posing as Homeland Security agents working on gang-related investigations and other high-level jobs. They carried around official IDs and laptops and drove black SUVs with flashing lights. They carried the same Glocks issued to federal officers and became so friendly with some agents that the agents accepted invitations to come to live in units at the Crossing Apartments for free.
Who Is Arian Taherzadeh?
The two are accused of obtaining drug paraphernalia, pistols, and assault rifles used by federal law enforcement. The FBI has also been accused of using its phony official affiliation to “ingratiate themselves with members of federal law enforcement and the military community.”
Secret service members have been provided to the Department of Homeland Security, and have been de-employed to rent-free housing. Arian’s name is also on a list of people who want to buy a gun for a secret service agent and have it assigned to the first lady’s security detail. Meanwhile, four secret service operatives have been placed on administrative leave pending an inquiry.
FBI agents continue to walk in & out of this apartment bldg on the 900 Bl of 1st St. SE in Navy Yard. People inside say they’ve seen agents on 3 floors in the building. We still don’t know exactly why they are here, but activity here has died down here in the last hour. (@wusa9) pic.twitter.com/Z7iJBW5UTx
— John Henry (@JohnHenryWUSA) April 6, 2022
The Crossings seemed to be heavily monitored by the two of them
According to the FBI, “rent-free apartments (with a total yearly rent of over $40,000 per apartment), iPhones, surveillance systems, a drone, a flat-screen television, a case for storing an assault rifle, a generator, and law enforcement paraphernalia” were lavished on at least four Secret Service employees and one DHS employee.
When cops raided Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali’s apartments on Wednesday, they allegedly discovered a binder with a list of every resident in the building. Along with guns, gas masks, tactical gear, hard drivers, servers, a drone, and training manuals.
Snapped a couple photos of the FBI arrests in eastern market. Seems like there were at least 2 on or near the hill today. pic.twitter.com/JU5w2xf5cl
— Phil Coppage (@philipcoppage) April 6, 2022Advertisement
During their initial hearing on Thursday afternoon, prosecutors mentioned that Ali had previously stated to two witnesses that he had ties to Pakistan’s major intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence. Prosecutors said his passports also contained outdated Pakistani and Iranian visas, according to Fox News.
There is no indication of ties to Pakistan in any of the charging documents. Prosecutors stated that they had not validated Ali’s assertions.
According to the Secret Service, the four unidentified Secret Service agents wooed by Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali have been placed on administrative leave awaiting an investigation.
According to Charging Docs: Since Feb 2020 — Taherzadeh and Ali used their “false and fraudulent affiliation” with DHS to ingratiate themselves with members of federal law enforcement and defense. @wusa pic.twitter.com/2erzV76InI
— Lorenzo Hall (@LorenzoHall) April 7, 2022
Residents in apt building told fed investigators that Taherzadeh and Ali said they:
— Lorenzo Hall (@LorenzoHall) April 7, 2022
•had surveillance set up throughout complex and gained access to bldg system
•can access cell phone and personal info of residents
•sent pictures to residents of police gear in apt. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/IUFZGnjuo0
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
