Man accused of posing as federal agent pleads guilty. Scheme included duping Secret Service agents.

Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
·1 min read
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WASHINGTON – One of two men accused of posing as federal agents while duping Secret Service personnel into accepting prohibited gifts, including rent-free apartments, pleaded guilty Monday.

Arian Taherzadeh, 40, entered guilty pleas to a federal conspiracy charge, unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device and voyeurism.

Following his arrest in April, Taherzadeh told investigators that his co-defendant, Haider Ali, had provided the funding for a scheme involving the acquisition of at least five apartments, two of which were allegedly provided to Secret Service members for at least a year and valued at more than $40,000 each.

Taherzadeh also allegedly offered to purchase a $2,000 assault rifle for a Secret Service agent assigned to the protective detail of first lady Jill Biden.

Ali, 36, has pleaded not guilty.

A U.S. Secret Service officer stands guard as President Donald Trump's motorcade arrives at the White House on Nov. 8, 2020.
A U.S. Secret Service officer stands guard as President Donald Trump's motorcade arrives at the White House on Nov. 8, 2020.

The arrests cast yet another unflattering spotlight on the Secret Service, which has been repeatedly dogged by incidents of misconduct while the agency now faces new questions about its handling of communication data related to the Jan. 6 attack.

According to prosecutors, Taherzadeh and Ali sought to ingratiate themselves with federal law enforcement by posing as agents with the Department of Homeland Security. At various points, Taherzadeh also claimed to be a former U.S. air marshal and a former Army Ranger.

Prosecutors said he used the false identities to "defraud owners of three apartment complexes into providing him with multiple apartments and parking spaces for his supposed law enforcement operations, and ingratiate himself with members of federal law enforcement and the defense community."

At one of the apartment complexes, Taherzadeh installed surveillance cameras outside and inside his apartment where he recorded "women engaged in sexual activity."

"Taherzadeh then showed these explicit videos to third parties," prosecutors said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arian Taherzadeh, accused of posing as federal agent, pleads guilty