A Washington, D.C., man, Arian Taherzadeh, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. Taherzadeh and his accomplice, Haider Ali, operated a business called United States Special Police LLC (USSP), which claimed to be a private law enforcement, investigative, and protective service based in D.C. However, the company had no association with the U.S. government or the District of Columbia. The two men were arrested in April 2022 and were found to have tricked actual Secret Service officers by offering them expensive apartments and gifts to gain their trust.
Taherzadeh went to great lengths to deceive law enforcement authorities, including taking a picture of himself wearing a Department of Homeland Security Investigations “vest” to prove his affiliation. Prosecutors also discovered multiple pictures of Taherzadeh in police tactical gear. Court documents revealed that Taherzadeh provided Secret Service officers and agents with rent-free apartments, expensive electronics, and other policing tools. In one instance, he even offered to buy an assault rifle for a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the first lady.
On August 1, 2022, Taherzadeh pleaded guilty to conspiracy, unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and voyeurism. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him to 33 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release and ordered him to pay $706,218 in restitution.
Haider Ali, Taherzadeh’s accomplice, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, bank fraud, and unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device on October 5, 2022. He was sentenced to 68 months of incarceration, followed by 36 months of supervised release, and was also ordered to pay restitution. The Justice Department reported that the fraudulent activities resulted in a loss of $698,363 to luxury apartment complexes and $7,854 to the garage.
This case highlights the seriousness of impersonating federal law enforcement officers and the potential risks associated with such fraudulent activities. It serves as a reminder of the importance of vetting individuals and organizations claiming to be affiliated with government agencies. The sentencing of Taherzadeh and Ali sends a strong message that impersonation of federal agents will not be tolerated.
