Silicon Valley Engineers Charged Over Theft of Trade Secrets From Google and Other Tech Firms

Three Silicon Valley engineers face federal charges for allegedly stealing sensitive trade secrets from Google and other tech giants, then sending the data to personal devices and even to Iran.

Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her husband Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, and her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, all from San Jose, were arrested on February 19, 2026.

A grand jury in the Northern District of California indicted them for conspiracy to steal trade secrets, actual and attempted theft, and obstruction of justice.

The case highlights growing risks of insider threats in the tech sector, where employees with access to critical processor and cryptography tech can exploit their roles for unauthorized transfers.

The sisters worked at Google before moving to “Company 3,” while Khosravi joined “Company 2.” Prosecutors claim they accessed confidential files on mobile processor security and cryptography during their jobs.

Samaneh Ghandali reportedly sent hundreds of Google files to a third-party messaging app using channels named after the defendants.

Soroor did the same. These files ended up on personal devices, Khosravi’s Company 2 laptop, and Soroor’s Company 3 work device.

Some data reached Iran, raising national security alarms as U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian stressed protecting American innovation from those benefiting adversarial nations.

To dodge detection, the group allegedly lied in signed affidavits to their employers, denying any sharing of secrets.

They deleted files, wiped devices, and photographed screens instead of downloading documents, capturing hundreds of images over months.

Google’s security flagged Samaneh’s activity in August 2023, cutting her access. She signed a false affidavit, and the couple then searched online for ways to erase messages and data, including phone records for the court.

The night before their December 2023 trip to Iran, Samaneh photographed 24 screens of Company 2 secrets on Khosravi’s computer. In Iran, her device accessed those photos, and he viewed more Company 2 data.

FBI Special Agent Sanjay Virmani called it a “calculated betrayal,” noting deliberate evasion tactics like screen photos to hide digital trails.

This case underscores vulnerabilities in Silicon Valley, where trade secrets fuel economic and national security edges.

Insider risks have surged, with similar thefts targeting AI, chips, and cloud tech amid U.S.-China tensions and state-sponsored espionage.

The defendants appeared in San Jose federal court on February 19 and face another hearing on February 20 before Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen.

Conviction could mean up to 10 years per theft count and 20 years for obstruction, plus $250,000 fines each. The U.S. Attorney’s National Security team prosecutes, based on FBI probes.

Charge	Statute	Max Penalty
Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets	18 U.S.C. § 1832(a)(5)	10 years prison, $250K fine
Theft/Attempted Theft of Trade Secrets	18 U.S.C. § 1832(a)(1)-(4)	10 years prison, $250K fine
Obstruction of Justice	18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1)	20 years prison, $250K fine

Tech firms must tighten exit protocols, monitor exfiltration, and use data loss prevention tools. Employees signing affidavits face perjury risks, and firms like Google show a quick response to cut damage. An indictment is not proof of guilt; defendants are presumed innocent.

This incident warns of family-linked schemes in high-stakes tech roles. Cybersecurity teams should audit access logs, screen-sharing, and photo uploads, especially for crypto and hardware secrets.

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