Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, an Iranian national, and his wife Linet Vartanniavartanians, a naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty on August 21 following a June incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tempe, Arizona. Eidivand admitted to possessing two firearms while being unlawfully present in the United States. Vartanniavartanians pleaded guilty to making threats against federal law enforcement officers.
According to court documents, the confrontation occurred on June 21 when ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers visited their residence. Eidivand was found with firearms despite his status as an illegal alien, which prohibits such possession under federal law.
During the encounter, Vartanniavartanians made several threats directed at ICE officers. She stated: “I’m not letting anybody enter my home without my, you know, permission. So anybody that tries to invade my home, I’m going to shoot them. Like I said, I have a gun, and it’s loaded.” She also said: “Anybody trying to enter my house is going to be shooted. I don’t allow anybody in my house, including ICE.” When asked about the location of the gun, she responded “in my hand right now.” Additionally, she said: “I go outside the backyard, and I’ll just shoot them in the head.”
Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for November 26 before United States District Judge David G. Campbell.
A conviction for Alien in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition can result in up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or both; supervised release may last up to three years with probation possible for up to five years. Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and similar financial penalties or probation terms.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and organized crime by leveraging resources from programs like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation involved ICE ERO, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI’s Phoenix Division. The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
