Silicon Valley Engineers Indicted for Alleged Trade Secret Theft From Google and Tech Firms
Federal authorities have arrested three engineers from Silicon Valley, charging them with conspiracy to steal trade secrets from major technology companies. This case underscores the increasing insider threats within the chip design sector, which may be…
Federal authorities have arrested three engineers from Silicon Valley, charging them with conspiracy to steal trade secrets from major technology companies. This case underscores the increasing insider threats within the chip design sector, which may be exploited by foreign entities to access sensitive information regarding processor security and cryptography.
The individuals charged are Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her husband Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, and her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, all residents of San Jose. They face allegations of trade secret theft, attempted theft, and obstruction of justice.
The indictment was unsealed by a grand jury on February 19, 2026, following their initial court appearance. If found guilty, they may receive up to 10 years per theft count and 20 years for obstruction, alongside fines of up to $250,000.
Charge Statute Max Penalty per Count
Conspiracy to steal trade secrets 18 U.S.C. § 1832(a)(5) 10 years prison, $250,000 fine
The individuals charged are Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her husband Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, and her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, all residents of San Jose.
Theft/attempted theft of trade secrets 18 U.S.C. § 1832(a)(1),(2),(3),(4) 10 years prison, $250,000 fine
Obstruction of official proceedings 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1) 20 years prison, $250,000 fine
The defendants allegedly leveraged their employment at leading firms to gain access to confidential information related to mobile processor technology. Both Samaneh and Soroor were employed at Google before transitioning to another company, while Khosravi worked at a separate firm. They reportedly transferred confidential data, including processor defense and encryption details, to personal devices and other unauthorized locations.
Exfiltration Tactics and Evasion Moves
Prosecutors outlined methods used by the defendants to avoid detection. At Google, Samaneh allegedly transferred numerous files, containing trade secrets, via a third-party messaging application. These files were subsequently stored on personal devices and company laptops.
The defendants are accused of signing false affidavits to deny data sharing, deleting files from devices, and capturing images of screens instead of downloading documents. After Samaneh's access was revoked due to suspicious activities in August 2023, she and Khosravi researched data deletion methods and continued to capture screen images for months.
Right before a trip to Iran in December 2023, Samaneh allegedly captured 24 screen images from Khosravi's laptop. These images were later accessed from Iran, where additional confidential data was reportedly obtained.
The defendants are scheduled to return to court on February 20, 2026, for the assignment of legal counsel. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Based on reporting by GBHackers.