Two former Google software engineers and one of their spouses have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States for allegedly stealing proprietary technology and transferring it to unauthorized entities, including companies in Iran. The charges, unsealed this week, involve the theft of trade secrets from Google and other technology firms.
The defendants are identified as Samaneh Ghandali, 41, a former Google engineer; her husband, Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40; and her sister, Soroor Ghandali, 32, also a former Google engineer. The indictment alleges the trio engaged in a multi-year scheme to pilfer confidential information related to Google’s infrastructure and proprietary software.
Details of the Alleged Scheme
According to court documents, the alleged activities spanned from approximately 2017 to 2023. Samaneh Ghandali and Soroor Ghandali are accused of using their access as Google employees to copy and transfer thousands of sensitive files. The stolen information reportedly included details about Google’s data center operations, machine learning and AI accelerator chip designs, and proprietary software systems.
The indictment further claims the defendants transferred the stolen data to personal accounts and cloud storage. Prosecutors allege some of this information was subsequently shared with technology companies in Iran, a nation subject to comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions and export controls. The actions are said to have violated both trade secret laws and federal sanctions regulations.
Charges and Legal Framework
The defendants face multiple felony charges. These include conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, theft of trade secrets, and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The IEEPA charges stem from the alleged willful transfer of U.S. technology to Iran without the required licenses from the Treasury Department.
If convicted on all counts, each defendant could face a maximum penalty of decades in federal prison. The case is being prosecuted by the national security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, underscoring the government’s classification of the matter as a national security concern.
Background and Company Response
Both Samaneh and Soroor Ghandali were employed at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Their roles granted them privileged access to the company’s internal systems and source code repositories. Google has stated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies in the investigation.
In a statement, a Google spokesperson said the company has strict safeguards to protect its confidential business information and that the alleged actions were a serious violation of the company’s policies and the trust placed in its employees. The company confirmed the individuals are no longer employed by Google.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The case is currently proceeding through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Arraignments for the defendants are scheduled in the coming weeks, where they will formally hear the charges and enter pleas. The Department of Justice has indicated it will seek to detain at least one of the defendants pending trial, citing a risk of flight.
Legal experts anticipate a complex trial, given the technical nature of the alleged stolen material and the intersection of trade secret law with export control regulations. The outcome will be closely watched by the technology industry and national security officials as a test case for prosecuting similar alleged schemes involving the transfer of sensitive U.S. technology to sanctioned nations.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice court filings
