Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, an Iranian national, and his wife Linet Vartanniavartanians, a naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty on August 21 following a June incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tempe, Arizona. Eidivand admitted to possessing two firearms while being unlawfully present in the United States. Vartanniavartanians pleaded guilty to making threats against federal law enforcement officers during the same encounter.
According to court documents, on June 21, 2025, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations visited the couple’s residence to contact Eidivand. During this time, Vartanniavartanians made several statements directed at the officers:
“I’m not letting anybody enter my home without my, you know, permission. So anybody that tries to invade my home, I’m going to shoot them. Like I said, I have a gun, and it’s loaded.”
“Anybody trying to enter my house is going to be shooted. I don’t allow anybody in my house, including ICE.”
When asked about the location of the gun, she responded “in my hand right now.”
“I go outside the backyard, and I’ll just shoot them in the head.”
Eidivand faces up to 15 years in prison for Alien in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition as well as fines up to $250,000 and supervised release or probation terms if convicted. Vartanniavartanians could receive up to 10 years in prison for Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer along with similar financial penalties and supervision conditions.
Sentencing for both defendants is set for November 26 before United States District Judge David G. Campbell.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and related criminal activity by combining resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The investigation was conducted by ICE ERO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI’s Phoenix Division. The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
