TONIGHT AT 11 – TWO IRANIAN NATIONALS ARE FACING FEDERAL CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO THE DRONE STRIKE – THAT KILLED THREE U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS FROM GEORGIA. TWO OF THE FALLEN HEROES WERE IN THEIR 20S… WHEN THEY WERE KILLED IN JANUARY. THE MEN ARRESTED ARE MAHDI MOHAMMAD SADEGHI AND MOHAMMAD ABEDINI. THE FBI SAYS – IT CAUGHT THE MEN AFTER TRACING THE DRONE’S NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO AN IRANIAN COMPANY RUN BY ONE OF THE SUSPECTS. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE SADEGHI FUNNELED SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY FROM A SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANY HE WORKED AT IN MASSACHUSSETS TO ABEDINI – WHOSE IRANIAN- BASED COMPANY THEN FORWARDED IT TO THE TERRORISTS BEHIND THE ATTACK. THE FBI SAYS – THE PAIR SET UP A FAKE A SWISS COMPANY TO BYPASS U.S. EXPORT CONTROL LAWS. “MR ABEDINI ESTABLISHED A FRONT COMPANY IN SWITZERLAND KNOWN AS ILLUMOVE AS ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT, AND THAT WAS A COVER TO PROCURE AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES FROM MR SADEGHI’S EMPLOYER TO MR ABEDINI, TRANSMITTED ON TO HIS COMPANY IN IRAN.” THE THREE FALLEN U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS INCLUDE: SERGEANT WILLIAM RIVERS OF CARROLLTON, SERGEANT BREONNA MOFFETT OF SAVANNAH AND SERGEANT KENNEDY SANDERS OF WAYCROSS. WJCL 22 NEWS – TIA MAGGIO NOW JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR STUDIO. TIA – YOU SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE VICTIMS FAMILIES TODAY. THAT’S RIGHT BROOKE. IT’S JUST BEEN SHY OF ONE YEAR SINCE THESE FAMILIES LOST THEIR LOVED ONES. “TO KNOW THAT SHE HAD NOTHING UNDER THE TREE WITH HER NAME ON IT. SHE’S NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS.” “SHE ENJOYED THE HOLIDAYS. I KNOW SHE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SHOPPING AND GETTING THINGS FOR HER, FOR HER NIECE AND HER FAMILY. SO, THIS WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE TIMES OF THE YEAR.” A SEAT WILL BE MISSING AT THE TABLE CHRISTMAS MORNING FOR THE TWO SOUTHEAST GEORGIA FAMILIES. THEIR LIVES FOREVER CHANGED IN JANUARY…WHEN TERRORIST DRONE A U.S. OUTPOST IN JORDAN —- — KILLING SGT. WILLIAM JEROME RIVERS OF CARROLLTON, SGT. BREONNA MOFFETT OF SAVANNAH AND SGT. KENNEDY SANDERS OF WAYCROSS. “YOU GET THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR, AND IT JUST 11 JUST LOOKING AT THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WAS GONNA SAY WITHOUT THEM SAYING ANYTHING 16. AND IT JUST SNATCHES YOUR WHOLE WORLD AWAY.” THE FBI ARRESTED TWO IRANIAN MEN – MAHDI MOHAMMAD SADEGHI AND MAHAMMAD ADEDINI – MONDAY. THEY’RE CHARGED WITH SENDING SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE DEADLY ATTACK — TO TERRORISTS IN IRAN. “WE OFTEN CITE HYPOTHETIC RISK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DANGERS OF AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES GETTING INTO DANGEROUS HANDS. UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS SITUATION, WE ARE NOT SPECULATING.” AUTHORITIES HOPING THESE ARRESTS BRING JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE DEADLY ATTACK. BUT FOR THE FAMILIES… JUSTICE IS KEEPING SANDERS AND MOFFETT’S MEMORY ALIVE. “WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST, THE WAY KENNEDY DID.” “JUST KEEP HER IN YOUR HEART. THAT’S WHAT WE ASK IS ALWAYS KEEP HER KENNEDY AND RIVERS IN YOUR HEART.” AUTHORITIES SAY MORE CHANGES AND SUSPECTS COULD COME FROM THESE ARRESTS. BROOKE
FBI arrests two men linked to deadly drone strike that killed Southeast Georgia soldiers
Two men have been charged in connection with a January drone strike in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops, including one soldier from Savannah.
Updated: 12:53 AM EST Dec 18, 2024
Two men have been charged in connection with a January drone strike in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members, including three from Georgia.The suspects – Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi – are accused of illegally sending sensitive technology to Iran, which was used in the attack. According to the FBI, the pair set up a fake Swiss company to bypass U.S. export laws, funneling the technology to Iran.Sadeghi, who worked for a semiconductor company in Massachusetts, allegedly supplied the parts to Abedini, who then forwarded them to his Iranian-based company. The deadly attack at a U.S. outpost in Jordan claimed the lives of three soldiers, including Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Sgt. Breonna Moffett of Savannah and Sgt. Kennedy Sanders of Waycross.For the families, this holiday season is a painful reminder of the loss. “She enjoyed the holidays,” Patrick Simmons, godfather of Sgt. Kennedy Sanders, said, “This was one of her favorite times of the year.”Francine Moffett, mom of Sgt. Breonna Moffett, recalled the heartbreaking moment they learned the devastating news: “You get the knock at the door, and you just know. It snatches your whole world away.”Authorities say the arrests bring hope for justice. “We often cite hypothetical risks when discussing American technology falling into dangerous hands,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. “Unfortunately, this is not speculation.”The families of Sgt. Moffett and Sgt. Sanders vows to keep their loved ones’ memories alive. “Just keep her in your heart. That’s what we ask: always keep her, Kennedy, and Rivers in your heart,” said Francine Moffett. Officials say additional charges and arrests could follow as the investigation continues.More: Two charged in connection with Iran-backed drone strike that killed Southeast Georgia soldiersGeorgia Gov. Kemp issues statement after Jordan drone attackSavannah: Candlelight vigil held for soldier killed in strikeSavannah community pays respect to late Sgt. Breonna MoffettSavannah: Friends remember soldier killed in drone strikeGeorgia: Family remembers soldier killed in Jordan drone strikeHundreds attend visitation for fallen Waycross soldier
Two men have been charged in connection with a January drone strike in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members, including three from Georgia.
The suspects – Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi – are accused of illegally sending sensitive technology to Iran, which was used in the attack. According to the FBI, the pair set up a fake Swiss company to bypass U.S. export laws, funneling the technology to Iran.
Sadeghi, who worked for a semiconductor company in Massachusetts, allegedly supplied the parts to Abedini, who then forwarded them to his Iranian-based company.
The deadly attack at a U.S. outpost in Jordan claimed the lives of three soldiers, including Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Sgt. Breonna Moffett of Savannah and Sgt. Kennedy Sanders of Waycross.
For the families, this holiday season is a painful reminder of the loss. “She enjoyed the holidays,” Patrick Simmons, godfather of Sgt. Kennedy Sanders, said, “This was one of her favorite times of the year.”
Francine Moffett, mom of Sgt. Breonna Moffett, recalled the heartbreaking moment they learned the devastating news: “You get the knock at the door, and you just know. It snatches your whole world away.”
Authorities say the arrests bring hope for justice. “We often cite hypothetical risks when discussing American technology falling into dangerous hands,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. “Unfortunately, this is not speculation.”
The families of Sgt. Moffett and Sgt. Sanders vows to keep their loved ones’ memories alive.
“Just keep her in your heart. That’s what we ask: always keep her, Kennedy, and Rivers in your heart,” said Francine Moffett.
Officials say additional charges and arrests could follow as the investigation continues.
More: Two charged in connection with Iran-backed drone strike that killed Southeast Georgia soldiers
Georgia Gov. Kemp issues statement after Jordan drone attack
Savannah: Candlelight vigil held for soldier killed in strike
Savannah community pays respect to late Sgt. Breonna Moffett
Savannah: Friends remember soldier killed in drone strike
Georgia: Family remembers soldier killed in Jordan drone strike