Three Silicon Valley Engineers Charged with Trade Secret Theft
Federal prosecutors announced that three engineers from Silicon Valley have been arrested for allegedly stealing trade secrets from Google and other tech companies, transferring sensitive information to unauthorized locations, including Iran.
The arrested individuals are 41-year-old Samane Gandari, 32-year-old Solor Gandari, and 40-year-old Mohammad Khosravi, all residents of San Jose, according to the Department of Justice.
They face serious charges, including conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, actual theft, and attempts to obstruct justice, following an indictment from a federal grand jury.
A spokesperson for Google, Jose Castañeda, stated that the company has bolstered its security protocols to safeguard sensitive data. Once this incident came to light, they promptly notified law enforcement. Castañeda framed the indictment as a significant move toward accountability and reinforced the company’s commitment to protecting its trade secrets.
The indictment reveals that the accused worked for tech firms focused mainly on mobile processors. Samane and Solor Gandari previously held positions at Google before transferring to another tech company, referenced as “Company 3,” located in Santa Clara, California. Khosravi, married to Samane Gandari, was employed at another firm, dubbed Company 2, in San Diego.
According to the prosecution, they exploited their roles to access proprietary information, intending to steal trade secrets. The indictment claims they exfiltrated confidential documents about processor security and encryption to unauthorized third parties and private locations, including devices linked to their respective employers, and exported data to Iran.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Misakian emphasized their commitment to protecting American innovation, pledging to seriously pursue those who unlawfully benefit from sensitive technology.
Samane Gandhari is accused, while at Google, of moving hundreds of files containing trade secrets to third-party platforms. Solor Gandhari is similarly alleged to have mishandled Google’s sensitive documents while employed.
The defendants reportedly tried to obscure their actions by issuing falsified affidavits to victim companies, destroying evidence, and concealing how they leaked information to evade detection.
Google indicated that it uncovered the alleged theft through routine security checks, leading to an internal inquiry and eventual law enforcement notification.
The company maintains extensive security strategies to protect sensitive content, which includes limiting employee access and employing stringent verification processes for systems and networks. They also monitor employee activities regarding data transfers to third-party platforms, such as blocking uploads to certain services from corporate devices.
Samaneh Gandari reportedly became a U.S. citizen around 2018, while Khosravi gained legal permanent resident status in 2019. Solor Gandari was in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant student visa.
