Full Breakdown
Indictment of Silicon Valley Engineers for Alleged Trade Secret Theft
2/20/2026, 11:02:01 AM
Overview of the Case
A federal grand jury has indicted three engineers from Silicon Valley—Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40—on multiple charges related to the theft of trade secrets from Google and other technology firms. The indictment, unsealed on February 20, 2026, alleges that the trio, all Iranian nationals residing in San Jose, California, conspired to steal sensitive data and transfer it to unauthorized locations, including Iran.
Details of the Allegations
The indictment outlines 14 felony counts against the defendants, including conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, theft and attempted theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors claim that while employed at Google, Samaneh Ghandali transferred over 300 files containing trade secrets to a third-party communications application based outside the United States. Soroor Ghandali is accused of sending 34 similar files. Khosravi, who worked at a different technology firm, is also implicated in the scheme.
The defendants allegedly exploited their positions at companies focused on mobile computer processors, including Google and another unnamed firm referred to as "Company 3." Khosravi worked at "Company 2," which develops system-on-chip platforms like Qualcomm's Snapdragon. The indictment suggests that the defendants intended to provide the stolen trade secrets to third parties, although it remains unclear if this occurred.
Google's Response and Security Measures
In response to the alleged theft, Google stated that it detected the suspicious activity through routine security monitoring and subsequently alerted law enforcement. José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, emphasized the company's commitment to safeguarding its confidential information, noting enhanced security measures such as restricted employee access to sensitive data, two-factor authentication for accounts, and logging file transfers to third-party platforms.
Criticism & Opposition
While the indictment presents a clear case against the defendants, there has been no immediate response from their legal representatives regarding the charges. The public defender's office could not be reached for comment outside regular business hours.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The indictment does not clarify whether the defendants successfully transferred the stolen trade secrets to Iran or any other unauthorized parties. Additionally, while the charges are serious, the potential defense strategies or motivations behind the alleged actions remain unexplored in the available sources.
What's Next
The defendants are expected to face significant legal consequences if convicted, with potential sentences of at least 20 years in prison for the most serious charges. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the protection of intellectual property in the technology sector and the implications of international espionage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As alleged, the defendants exploited their positions to steal confidential trade secrets from their employers,” — Craig H. Missakian, United States Attorney
- “We have enhanced safeguards to protect our confidential information and immediately alerted law enforcement after discovering this incident,” — José Castañeda, Google Spokesperson
