Three Silicon Valley engineers indicted for stealing trade secrets from Google, other tech companies

According to the indictment, filed Wednesday and unsealed Thursday, the defendants worked at major technology companies focused on mobile computer processors. Samaneh Ghandali and her sister, Soroor Ghandali, were employed at Google before later working at another company identified in court documents as Company 3. Khosravi, who is married to Samaneh Ghandali, worked at a company identified as Company 2.

Federal prosecutors allege the defendants used their positions to access confidential and sensitive information, including trade secrets related to processor security, cryptography and other technologies. The indictment says they transferred the information to unauthorized third-party and personal locations, including to work devices associated with each other’s employers and to Iran.

While at Google, Samaneh Ghandali allegedly transferred hundreds of files, including trade secrets, to a third-party communications platform using channels bearing each defendant’s first name. Soroor Ghandali is also accused of transferring Google files to the same channels. The files were later copied to personal devices and to work devices at Company 2 and Company 3, prosecutors said.

The indictment further alleges the defendants tried to hide their actions by submitting false signed affidavits to victim companies, destroying files and records from electronic devices, and concealing how the data was taken -- including manually photographing computer screens instead of transferring full documents electronically.

After Google’s security systems detected Samaneh Ghandali’s activity and revoked her access in August 2023, she allegedly signed an affidavit stating she had not shared confidential information outside the company. Prosecutors say she and Khosravi later searched online for information about deleting communications and how long cell phone providers keep messages.

On the night before Samaneh Ghandali and Khosravi traveled to Iran in December 2023, she allegedly took about 24 photos with her phone of Khosravi’s work computer screen displaying Company 2 trade secrets. While in Iran, a personal device linked to Samaneh Ghandali accessed those images, and Khosravi accessed other Company 2 trade secret information, according to the indictment.

U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian accused the defendants of exploiting “their positions to steal confidential trade secrets from their employers” and vowed to prosecute those who steal sensitive technology. FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani said the alleged conduct reflected “a calculated betrayal of trust.”

The defendants are scheduled to return to court Feb. 20 for the identification of counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy and trade secret theft, and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for obstruction of official proceedings, federal prosecutors said.