2 Men Busted For Posing As Federal Agents And Giving Gifts To US Secret Service Agents

Two men posing as federal agents were charged on Wednesday for plying US Secret Service agents with luxurious gifts. Washington DC officials say the men, identified as 40-year-old Arain Taherzadeh and Haider Ali, 36, are facing several charges corresponding to fraud and claiming to work for the Department of Homeland Security.

According to Fox News, Taherzadeh and Ali also claimed to be on a special task force assigned to investigate gang and violence linked to the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol building. Prosecutors allege the pair had posed as law enforcement officers to integrate with the actual roster of federal agents.

Court documents revealed how Taherzadeh was accused of showering Secret Service agents with rent-free apartments that included a penthouse costing well over $40,000 a year to rent, along with flat-screen TVs, a generator, surveillance systems, a drone as well as iPhones. He was also said to have provided the agents with the use of “official government” vehicles such as one black GMC SUV.

One recipient of these lavish gifts was said to have worked with the First Lady’s security detail and was offered a $2,000 assault rifle with prosecutors alleging the pair had purchased handguns and assault rifles that are typically used by federal law enforcement.

Four Secret Service members have been placed on administrative leave earlier in the week as authorities dig deep into the investigation

Their arrest came when the two suspects were questioned when a US Postal Inspector arrived at the apartment complex to investigate the assault of a US Postal Service carrier. Residents told the investigators how Taherzadeh and Ali had set up video surveillance all over the residential complex claiming they had access to the personal information of every resident.

The two men identified themselves as federal investigators working with the US Special Police Investigation Unit and the Department of Homeland And Security. The investigation is still underway as authorities have yet to determine the motive and goal of the suspects for posing as such and lavishing Secret Service agents with gifts. Both imposters are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, but it is not yet known if they had lawyers who could speak on behalf of their defense.