An Iranian man living in Natick was arrested on Monday afternoon, who was one of two Iranian men wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their role in a deadly drone strike earlier this year, 5 Investigates was the first to report.The FBI in Boston announced Monday that two Iranian men were under arrest, following accusations of export violations and providing material support to Iran.Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi (Abedini), 38, of Tehran, Iran, have been charged in federal court in Boston with conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws, the Department of Justice announced.Abedininajafabadi is also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.FBI officials said the case was in connection to a fatal drone strike on Jan. 28 that killed three U.S. service members and injured over 40 others in Jordan.At the time, the U.S. Department of Defense believed that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia from Iraq, was responsible for the attack.The Natick Police Department along with the FBI were conducting an investigation at a home on Woodland Street on Monday afternoon.Shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, police announced on social media that Natick residents should avoid the area of Woodland Street between Juniper Lane and Clover Lane to allow officers to conduct their duties efficiently.Police stated that there was no immediate threat to the community.It was later revealed that the home belonged to Sadeghi, who appeared at the federal courthouse in South Boston on Monday.The FBI used parts of the drone used in the attack in January to link Sadeghi with supplying material support to Iran.Sadeghi allegedly sent sensitive technology from a Norwood semiconductor company overseas to the hands of groups designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.Authorities allege Sadeghi and Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested in Milan, Italy by Italian authorities at the request of the U.S. government on Monday, worked together to help Iran and Iranian-backed militias carry out the drone attack.”We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technologies getting into dangerous hands,” U.S. attorney Joshua Levy said during a joint press conference with members of the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI in Boston on Monday.”Unfortunately in this situation, we are not speculating. These charges today underscore that the Department of Justice will not cease in its effort to seek justice for service members who were killed and harmed overseas.”The FBI later confirmed that the Natick home that was raided Monday afternoon belonged to Sadeghi.Authorities said more charges could be coming.In Natick, neighbors said the search of Sadeghi’s home went on all day Monday and said they had no idea why the FBI was there for so long.Neighbors said they did not know Sadeghi’s family very well and that they are shocked to find out about his arrest.”That definitely is serious and shocking, Natick resident John Link said. “Again, I don’t know the family so, it’ll be interesting to see what develops from it.”
An Iranian man living in Natick was arrested on Monday afternoon, who was one of two Iranian men wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their role in a deadly drone strike earlier this year, 5 Investigates was the first to report.
The FBI in Boston announced Monday that two Iranian men were under arrest, following accusations of export violations and providing material support to Iran.
Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi (Abedini), 38, of Tehran, Iran, have been charged in federal court in Boston with conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws, the Department of Justice announced.
Abedininajafabadi is also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
FBI officials said the case was in connection to a fatal drone strike on Jan. 28 that killed three U.S. service members and injured over 40 others in Jordan.
At the time, the U.S. Department of Defense believed that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia from Iraq, was responsible for the attack.
The Natick Police Department along with the FBI were conducting an investigation at a home on Woodland Street on Monday afternoon.
Shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, police announced on social media that Natick residents should avoid the area of Woodland Street between Juniper Lane and Clover Lane to allow officers to conduct their duties efficiently.
Police stated that there was no immediate threat to the community.
It was later revealed that the home belonged to Sadeghi, who appeared at the federal courthouse in South Boston on Monday.
The FBI used parts of the drone used in the attack in January to link Sadeghi with supplying material support to Iran.
Sadeghi allegedly sent sensitive technology from a Norwood semiconductor company overseas to the hands of groups designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.
Authorities allege Sadeghi and Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested in Milan, Italy by Italian authorities at the request of the U.S. government on Monday, worked together to help Iran and Iranian-backed militias carry out the drone attack.
“We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technologies getting into dangerous hands,” U.S. attorney Joshua Levy said during a joint press conference with members of the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI in Boston on Monday.
“Unfortunately in this situation, we are not speculating. These charges today underscore that the Department of Justice will not cease in its effort to seek justice for service members who were killed and harmed overseas.”
The FBI later confirmed that the Natick home that was raided Monday afternoon belonged to Sadeghi.
Authorities said more charges could be coming.
In Natick, neighbors said the search of Sadeghi’s home went on all day Monday and said they had no idea why the FBI was there for so long.
Neighbors said they did not know Sadeghi’s family very well and that they are shocked to find out about his arrest.
“That definitely is serious and shocking, Natick resident John Link said. “Again, I don’t know the family so, it’ll be interesting to see what develops from it.”