In a revelation that is reminiscent of a James Patterson story, the Justice Department has indicted an Iranian national for allegedly working with members of the Hell’s Angels biker gang to carry out assassinations in Maryland.
The cast includes two Hells Angels from Canada, and an Iranian drug dealer named Naji Sharifi Zindashti.
The main character of this story is Naji Sharifi Zindashti. Zindashti is an Iranian drug dealer, also known as “Big Guy”, who according to the U.S. Department of Justice has links to Iran’s Intelligence Service. Zindashti is accused of orchestrating an assassination plot from Iran, leveraging his connections with two Canadian nationals, Damion John Ryan, Adam Richard Pearson, and other Canadians. Both men are Hells Angels members.
On Monday, the Justice Department and federal officials revealed that two Canadian Hells Angels had plotted to murder two dissidents in Maryland using an Iranian drug dealer.
Naji Sharifi Zindashti, also known as “Big Guy”, who has ties to Iran’s Intelligence Services was in contact with Damion John Pat Ryan for more than a month about “jobs”. In January 2021, he mentioned a “specific position” in the United States, according to a federal grand jury indictment.
Indictment: Ryan told Zindashti, while he was communicating with him via “encrypted communication service,” that it would be a “challenge”, but “he could have someone else do it.”
Indictment: On the day of the accident, Ryan called Adam Richard Pearson. Pearson told Ryan that he needed 2 to 3 workers including a driver. He also said he “may charge over $100,000 for the job.”
According to officials in the United States, Ryan replied that he would “get u what you want”, but it was “overkill” lol.
The plot, which took place between December 2020 and March 2021 involved planning a brutal murder. Pearson, reports say, told the hired people to “shoot the victim in the head a lot to set an example” and to “erase [his head] from his body”.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota noted that Zindashti had used “an encrypted messaging service” to plan the plot.
The targets were two Iranian dissidents who lived in Maryland. According to a press release, the Treasury Department stated that Zindashti’s organization performs these missions regularly for Iran.
Zindashti’s network committed many acts of transnational violence, including kidnappings and assassinations to silence perceived Iranian regime critics. This network planned operations in the United States.
This is a reminder to all that authoritarian regimes are capable of expanding their influence far beyond their borders.
The plan was foiled. Now, the Justice Department is charging all three with conspiracy to use an interstate trade facility to commit a hired killing. Through this case, the authorities will learn more about Zindashti’s criminal enterprise.
