Two Iranian nationals have been charged in connection with a hacking scheme that targeted a Vermont software company.
Mohammed Reza Rezakhah, 39, and Mohammed Saeed Ajily, 35, are accused of conspiring to access computers without authorization to steal software, which they would then sell and redistribute in Iran and elsewhere outside the U.S.
According to the indictment, Rezakhah and Ajily’s scheme began in or around 2007 and continued through at least 2012. During this time, they allegedly hacked into the networks of multiple companies, including a Vermont-based engineering consulting and software design company.
The indictment alleges that Ajily, a businessman, would task Rezakhah and others with stealing or cracking particular pieces of valuable software. Rezakhah would then conduct unauthorized intrusions into victim networks to steal the desired software.
Once the software was obtained, Ajily marketed and sold the software through various companies and associates to Iranian entities, including universities and military and government entities, despite the fact that such sales were in contravention of U.S. export controls and sanctions.
The indictment charges Rezakhah and Ajily with a criminal conspiracy relating to computer fraud and abuse, unauthorized access to, and theft of information from, computers, wire fraud, exporting a defense article without a license, and violating sanctions against Iran.
The FBI’s Albany Cyber Squad investigated the case, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Eugenia A.P. Cowles of the District of Vermont and Deputy Chief Sean Newell of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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