Three engineers connected to Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem are facing serious federal charges for allegedly stealing trade secrets from companies including Google and transferring confidential information to Iran and other external locations. The case has intensified concerns over the protection of strategic innovation in the United States. A federal grand jury formally approved the indictment, clearing the way for criminal proceedings.
The charges include conspiracy to steal trade secrets, theft and attempted theft of sensitive technology, and obstruction of justice. According to the indictment, the defendants are Iranian nationals: a married couple aged 41 and 40, and the woman’s 32-year-old sister. The sister was living in the United States on a student visa, while the woman later became a U.S. citizen. The husband holds permanent residency and is reported to have previously served in the Iranian military. Prosecutors allege that the defendants leveraged their positions within major technology firms to gain access to strategic data.
The two sisters were employed at Google, while the husband worked in processor development, a critical sector within the semiconductor industry. Authorities claim that highly sensitive information was transferred from internal corporate systems to external storage devices and cloud services, some reportedly located outside the United States, including in Iran. Google stated that the alleged data theft was discovered during routine internal security reviews.
After identifying suspicious access patterns and data transfers, the company promptly alerted federal authorities. The U.S. attorney overseeing the case said the defendants allegedly exploited their positions of trust to steal confidential trade secrets. He emphasized that the government will take decisive action against those who attempt to use sensitive American innovation for unlawful purposes or to benefit foreign states.
The FBI described the case as a “calculated breach of trust” and indicated that there were coordinated efforts to conceal the alleged misconduct. Officials believe the actions, if proven, could pose risks to national technological and economic security. The case unfolds amid growing concerns over industrial espionage and global technological competition.
Protecting intellectual property has become a central pillar of U.S. national security policy. As the legal process moves forward, the defendants face potentially significant penalties if convicted. The case underscores the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with access to highly sensitive technological information.
