Silicon Valley Engineers Accused of Stealing Google Trade Secrets

Three defendants, a pair of sisters and one of their husbands, allegedly transferred confidential documents to unauthorized locations and Iran.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Three Silicon Valley engineers, a pair of sisters and one of their husbands, have been indicted for conspiring to steal trade secrets from Google and other technology companies. The defendants, who are originally from Iran, allegedly transferred confidential documents including trade secrets related to processor security, cryptography, and other technologies to unauthorized third-party and personal locations, as well as to Iran.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing threat of corporate espionage and the theft of sensitive intellectual property, particularly from leading technology companies in Silicon Valley. It also raises concerns about potential national security implications if trade secrets are transferred to foreign countries.

The details

According to the indictment, the sisters, Samaneh Ghandali and Soroor Ghandali, worked at Google before moving to another technology company, while Samaneh's husband, Mohammadjavad Khosravi, worked at a different company. The defendants allegedly worked together to transfer their employers' confidential documents, including trade secrets, to unauthorized locations and to Iran. Google's internal security systems detected Samaneh Ghandali's activity in August 2023, leading to her termination in September of that year.

  • Samaneh Ghandali was hired as a hardware engineering intern at Google in 2018 and was later promoted to a full-time role.
  • In August 2023, Google's internal security systems detected Samaneh Ghandali's activity and she was terminated in September 2023.
  • In December 2023, Samaneh Ghandali and her husband traveled from San Francisco to Iran, and her personal device accessed photographs she had taken of her husband's work computer.

The players

Samaneh Ghandali

A 41-year-old woman who worked as a hardware engineering intern at Google in 2018 and was later promoted to a full-time role, before moving to another technology company.

Soroor Ghandali

A 32-year-old woman and the sister of Samaneh Ghandali, who also worked at Google before moving to another technology company.

Mohammadjavad Khosravi

A 40-year-old man who is the husband of Samaneh Ghandali and worked at a different technology company.

Google

An American multinational technology company that operates search engines, online advertising technologies, and a variety of other products and services.

Company 2

A technology company where Mohammadjavad Khosravi was employed.

Company 3

A technology company where Samaneh Ghandali and Soroor Ghandali were employed after leaving Google.

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What they’re saying

“As alleged, the defendants exploited their positions to steal confidential trade secrets from their employers. Our office will continue to lead the way in protecting American innovation and we will vigorously prosecute individuals who steal sensitive advanced technologies for improper gain or to benefit countries that wish us ill.”

— Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney (U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California)

“We have enhanced safeguards to protect our confidential information and immediately alerted law enforcement after discovering this incident. Today's indictments are an important step towards accountability and we'll continue working to ensure our trade secrets remain secure.”

— José Castañeda, Google Spokesperson (Google)

“Protecting Silicon Valley innovation and defending the groundbreaking technologies that drive our economy and national security is a top priority for the FBI. We will continue to work with our private sector partners to hold accountable anyone who seeks to unlawfully exploit American ingenuity.”

— Sanjay Virmani, FBI Special Agent in Charge (FBI)

What’s next

The defendants are next scheduled to appear in district court on Friday. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of trade secret theft and 20 years in prison for each count of obstruction of official proceedings.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of corporate espionage and the theft of sensitive intellectual property, particularly from leading technology companies in Silicon Valley. It also raises concerns about potential national security implications if trade secrets are transferred to foreign countries, underscoring the importance of robust security measures and vigilance in protecting American innovation.