Sentencing of Assassin Plotter Linked to Iranian Government
A federal judge sentenced a would-be assassin to a maximum of 15 years in prison for plotting to kill Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad on behalf of the Iranian government. This decision came after Alinejad described the multiple attempts on her life and the broader threat to all Americans.
Judge Luis J. Lehman called the written exchanges from Carlyle Rivera’s conspiracy to murder Alinejad in 2024 “appalling,” noting the “tremendous harm” it caused both Rivera and her husband.
In their statement to the court, Alinejad and her husband detailed how the assassination plot led them to limit interaction with their children, constantly changing homes to evade the persistent threat from Iran.
“I’m just a woman,” Alinejad remarked. “My weapon is my voice. My weapon is social media.”
She urged the judge to impose the maximum penalty on Rivera to deter those trying to target Americans on U.S. soil and to safeguard unarmed individuals facing severe dangers in their own countries.
Alinejad indicated that people in Iran, as well as Iranian-Americans, confront life-threatening risks to maintain global safety.
Before learning her fate, Rivera, at 51, expressed remorse for his actions, stating he “deeply regrets” what he did.
Outside a federal courthouse in Manhattan, Alinejad highlighted the importance of preventing violence in Iran from spilling over into the U.S. She held up a tablet, showing reporters images of body bags from recent protests in Iran.
She also called on President Trump to take action against Iran’s Supreme Leader, likening the call to the recent apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on drug trafficking charges.
Alinejad clarified that she does not advocate for bombings, only for the removal of Iran’s leadership. She mentioned that U.S. officials have pointed out Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps involvement in threats against her and even against President Trump.
Having left Iran after a disputed election in 2009, Alinejad has built an online campaign encouraging Iranian women to defy dress codes. She became a U.S. citizen in 2019 and has since traveled internationally, advocating for freedom of expression.
In a previous trial, two men were convicted for attempting to kidnap and kill her in 2022, with evidence suggesting a $500,000 bounty placed on her life by Iran.
In November 2024, the Justice Department accused Tehran of being behind another murder plot targeting President Trump. Reports indicated the same individual was involved in the conspiracy against Alinejad.
Intelligence officials believe Iran opposes Trump’s re-election, particularly after the earlier sanctions and the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, which prompted threats of retaliation from Iranian leadership.
In recent court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that Rivera had intended to manage Alinejad’s appearance at an event that was ultimately canceled. He persistently tried to surveil her at her Brooklyn residence, which she had since left.
During a break, Alinejad comforted Rivera’s fiancée, who was in tears and expressed her apologies.
Outside the courtroom, Alinejad told her, “When I asked President Trump to catch the perpetrators, I said, ‘I’m fighting for you, I’m fighting for all Americans.’
