Two people have been arrested for allegedly impersonating federal agents over the course of several years. The FBI alleges that Ariane Teherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 36, have been pretending to be various US government officials and employees, including members of federal law enforcement agencies, since February 2020.
The two reportedly obtained paraphernalia, handguns and assault rifles used by federal law enforcement agencies. The FBI claims that he used his false ties with the US government to "conflict himself with members of the federal law enforcement and defense community."
Tehrzadeh, pretending to be a member of the Department of Homeland Security, provided a rent-free apartment to US Secret Service members and a DHS employee, "for storing an iPhone, surveillance systems, a drone, a flat-screen television, an assault rifle." A case, a generator, and law enforcement material," FBI Special Agent David Elias wrote in an affidavit.
In one instance, Tehrzadeh allegedly offered to buy a gun for a Secret Service agent assigned to the protective details of the first lady. Four Secret Service agents have been placed on administrative leave amid the ongoing investigation.
The two were discovered on March 14, when a US Postal Inspector responded to a DC apartment building to a report of an attack involving a US Postal Service letter carrier. Tehrzadeh and Ali told officers that they were members of a DHS police force, and that they were involved in an investigation related to secret gangs, and that the U.S. We're also investigating last year's riots at the Capitol.
Other residents of the building said the two - who had several apartments in the building they said were "being paid for by DHS" - had access to residents' surveillance cameras, cell phones and other personal information. Officers later learned that many of the buildings' residents were in the FBI, Secret Service and DHS. Others were members of the Department of Defense and the US Navy.
A man who lived in the building, which was not employed by federal law enforcement, identified as "Witness 1" in the affidavit, told Elias that Tehrzadeh had a concealed firearm, a DHS investigation (HSI). ) marked "casefile" was "confidential". and presented the witness with a badge and other credentials to prove that he was in law enforcement.
According to the affidavit, Taherzadeh told Witness 1 that as part of the "HSI recruitment process" he would shoot the witness with an air rifle to evaluate his "response and pain tolerance." The witness agreed and Tehrzadeh shot him. Ali was present during the shooting.
According to the FBI, Tehrzadeh and Ali met with Secret Service agent "Witness 2" in July 2021. Tehrzadeh told the agent about his job with HSI, and sent the agent his "police tactical gear" and several photos of himself in HSI training, the latter of which turned out to be a stock image found on the Internet, the FBI said. Tehrzadeh also lent the agent's wife what he claimed was a "government vehicle", offered to buy the agent a weapon and gave the agent a gun holder. Elias alleges that the agent still has Holder.
The FBI said the agent, who lived in the same building, confirmed that Tehrzadeh had access to security cameras in the building, and was carrying a shotgun.
Another Secret Service agent, identified as "Witness 3", lived in a penthouse in a rent-free apartment building by Taherzadeh from February 2021 to January 2022. The agent said he received emails from Taherzadeh's DHS email, but investigators found it was a fake account.
"Witness 4" is a document analysis specialist with DHS-HSI and also lived in the same building. Witness 4 spoke to his supervisors, but could not confirm that Tehrzadeh worked for DHS, which Tehrzadeh explained to him by telling him he was undercover, according to the FBI. Witness 4 told the FBI that he "saw a significant amount of law enforcement material in his apartment, including SWAT vests, a large safe, computers, a high-powered telescope, and internal surveillance cameras."
In the affidavit, the fourth U.S. The Secret Service agent, identified as "Witness 5", was assigned to guard the White House. The agent lived in an apartment, which was re-provided by Tehrzadeh, free of rent from February 2021 to January 2022, Tehrzadeh reportedly told Witness 5 that "HSI provided additional rooms as part of its actions." approved," which officials say was not true.
The agent said he had previously seen police react to the apartment building about a complaint about Tehrzadeh wearing police equipment. According to witness 5 no action was taken.
Tehrzadeh showed the agent a computer with "DHS Information", an HSI badge, special police officer credentials, a ballistic vest with DHS/HSI on it, and firearms. Witness 5 also saw Tehrzadeh firing a Glock at range of a gun, and the agent personally fired one of Tehrzadeh's AR-15-style rifles at range. The agent also reported that Tehrzadeh had two black SUVs and a Chevy Impala with police lights. According to the FBI, Tehrzadeh gifted the agent a drone, a gun locker and a Pelican case.
Witness 5 alleges that Tehrzadeh had access to all floors of the apartment and some restricted areas, and believes Tehrzadeh used his fake credentials to gain access to such areas from the building's management.
Taherzadeh told Witness 5 that Ali "took care of all administrative issues with Taherzadeh's HSI task force."
The affidavit did not specify what the ultimate goal of the two men would have been.
In a statement to CBS News, the U.S. The Secret Service said it "worked with, and continues to work with, its law enforcement partners in this ongoing investigation."
"All personnel involved in this case are on administrative leave and are prohibited from accessing Secret Service facilities, equipment and systems," it said. "The Secret Service adheres to the highest standards of professional standards and conduct and will remain in active coordination with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security."