IT 552

BEHZAD MESRI Computer Intrusion; Aggravated Identity Theft; Aiding and Abetting; Computer Fraud

– Unauthorized Access to a Protected Computer; Wire Fraud; Computer Fraud – Threatening to Impair the Confidentiality of Information; Computer Fraud – Threatening to Damage a Protected Computer/Impair the Confidentiality of

Information; Interstate Transmission of an Extortionate Communication

DESCRIPTION Alias: Skote Vahshat Date(s) of Birth Used: August 24, 1988 Place of Birth: Naghadeh, Iran Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Height: 5'9" Weight: 175 pounds Sex: Male Race: White Nationality: Iranian NCIC: W052433913

REMARKS Mesri is known to speak Farsi and resides in Iran.

CAUTION Behzad Mesri is wanted for his alleged involvement in criminal activities to include computer intrusion and aggravated identity theft. Mesri was the CEO of an Iranian entity that allegedly worked at the behest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and was allegedly used in furtherance of a malicious cyber campaign targeting current and former members of the United States Intelligence Community. On February 8, 2019, a grand jury in the United States District Court, District of Columbia, indicted Mesri, and others, and a federal arrest warrant was issued for him after he was charged with conspiracy, attempted computer intrusions, and aggravated identity theft. Mesri was previously charged with unauthorized access to computer systems, stealing proprietary data from those systems, and attempted extortion for approximately $6 million in Bitcoin. On November 8, 2017, a grand jury in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, indicted Mesri and a federal arrest warrant was issued for him after he was charged with Computer Fraud – Unauthorized Access to a Protected Computer; Wire Fraud; Computer Fraud – Threatening to Impair the Confidentiality of Information; Computer Fraud – Threatening to Damage a Protected Computer/Impair the Confidentiality of Information; Interstate Transmission of an Extortionate Communication; and Aggravated Identity Theft.

SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT RISK If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Field Offices: New York, Washington D.C.