Arian Taherzadeh.Photo: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Two men have been charged with impersonating federal officers in a case involving several Secret Service agents — some of them assigned to protect First Lady Dr.Jill Bidenor the White House. A group of agents are now on leave in relation to the case.
In a complaint filed Tuesday and unsealed Wednesday, federal prosecutors allege that two men — 36-year-old Haider Ali and 40-year-old Arian Taherzadeh — have been falsely claiming to be officers with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since February 2020.
The complaint further states that Taherzadeh allegedly “offered to purchase a $2,000 assault rifle for a United Secret Service Agent assigned to the First Lady’s protective detail.”
Arian Taherzadeh.United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Prosecutors say the two men allegedly identified themselves to the inspector as members of the U.S. Special Police Investigation Unit and said they were involved in “undercover gang-related investigations” as well as investigations related the2021 U.S. Capitol riots.
In speaking to other residents, the inspector learned that the two men had emergency lights on their vehicles and had previously told residents that could access, “at any time,” their cell phones and personal information, according to the complaint against them.
The investigation grew wider when the inspector learned that Taherzadeh and Ali were in regular contact with members of the Secret Service, whom they had provided with gifts (including the use of what they claimed to be an official government vehicle: their GMC SUV), per the complaint.
Taherzadeh had at one point also offered to provide a $2,000 rifle to a Secret Service agent on the first lady’s detail, prosecutors claim.
The FBI soon got involved, with witnesses recounting that the men had at times shown them badges for their purported work with federal agencies and that they had been seen carrying concealed firearms.
The case, as outlined in the complaint, offers a bizarre look at how Taherzadeh and Ali formed relationships with people including Secret Service agents and civilians who lived in their building.
One witness told the agency the men had allegedly asked them to “conduct research into an individual who worked for the United States government as a contractor.” The witness claimed that they allowed Taherzadeh to shoot them with an air rifle “because he/she believed this was part of the DHS/HSI recruiting process.”
The true cost of the apartment was approximately $40,200.
Taherzadeh and Ali have each been charged with one count of false impersonation of an officer of the United States. It’s unclear if they have retained attorneys who can comment on their behalf.
The case has led to fallout at the Secret Service where, as of Monday, four members had been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation, prosecutors said.
The Secret Service said ina statement Wednesday night, “All personnel involved in this matter are on administrative leave and are restricted from accessing Secret Service facilities, equipment and systems. The Secret Service adheres to the highest levels of professional standards and conduct and will remain in active coordination with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.”
source: people.com
