Two men who posed as federal agents to try to fool multiple Secret Service agents were charged with false impersonation of an officer on Tuesday, The New York Times reports.
The two men, Arian Taherzadeh, and Haider Ali, posed as Department of Homeland Security officers in dealings with the Secret Service.
The men offered agents tens of thousands in gifts, including rent-free apartments, prosecutors said.
Four members of the Secret Service have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
The FBI arrested both men, who are U.S. citizens, in D.C. on Wednesday.
“Taherzadeh and Ali have attempted to use their false and fraudulent affiliation with D.H.S. to ingratiate themselves with members of federal law enforcement and the defense community,” David Elias, an F.B.I. special agent.
Alarming charges:
At one point, Taherzadeh offered to buy a $2,000 assault rifle for a Secret Service agent assigned to first lady Jill Biden’s security detail.
They also provided agents with rent-free luxury apartments, iPhones, surveillance systems, a drone, a flat-screen TV, a generator, and a case for an assault rifle.
Law enforcement officers who searched apartments related to the case found body armor, gas masks, zip ties, handheld radios, a SWAT drone, ammunition, and documents labeled “law enforcement sensitive.”
Pakistan ties:
Prosecutors said in court on Thursday that Ali had told witnesses that he had connections to Pakistani intelligence forces.
Prosecutors said that Ali also had multiple visas that had been issued by Pakistan and Iran.
Prosecutors have not said what they believe to be their motivation but asked a judge to keep them in custody because they pose a flight risk.
