Iranian agent charged with murder, plotting to kill Trump – NBC New York

The Department of Justice announced that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agent and two other local agents are facing murder-for-hire charges.

Farhad Shakeri, 51, from Iran; Carlisle Rivera, known as Pop, 49, of Brooklyn, New York; and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, of Staten Island, New York, were charged today in a criminal indictment in connection with participating in a plot to murder an Iranian-American citizen in New York.

Rivera was arrested in Brooklyn, New York, and Loadholt was arrested in Staten Island, New York, on Thursday. Shakeri is still at large and is believed to be living in Iran. Rivera and Loadholt appeared yesterday in the Southern District of New York and were ordered held pending trial.

“The Department of Justice has indicted an agent of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime with leading a network of criminal associates to further Iranian assassination plots against its targets, including the President-elect Donald Trump,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland .

In addition, the Department of Justice announced that they charged and arrested two people, who they believe were recruited as part of that network to assassinate an American journalist who has been overt criticism of the overthrow and killing of the regime, on US soil.

“The charges announced today highlight Iran’s continued and aggressive efforts to target American citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders, and critical dissidents.” the regime in Tehran,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

According to Wray, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization, has been conspiring with criminals and thugs to attack and shoot Americans on American soil and that is unacceptable.

“Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, their deadly plans were foiled. We are committed to using all of the FBI’s resources to protect our citizens from Iran or any other enemy that attacks Americans,” the FBI director said.