An Iranian couple has entered guilty pleas following a confrontation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June, a situation that has now reached its legal denouement. Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, 41, and his wife, Linet Vartanniavartanians, 37, faced the court last Thursday, with both admitting to charges stemming from the altercation, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.
Eidivand, who is an Iranian national and was in the U.S. without legal authority, pleaded guilty to being an Alien in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Vartanniavartanians, a naturalized U.S. citizen, admitted to Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer during the ICE's visit to their residence in Tempe, Arizona, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona. Their sentencing is scheduled for November 26.
According to the Department of Justice's press release, the altercation occurred on June 21, when ICE agents approached the couple's home. Vartanniavartanians made threats to impede and intimidate the officers, stating, “I’m not letting anybody enter my home without my, you know, permission. So anybody who tries to invade my home, I’m going to shoot them. Like I said, I have a gun, and it’s loaded.” She further added that any intruders, including ICE, would be "shooted" and mentioned having the gun "in my hand right now."
The charges brought against Eidivand could lead to a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both, with an additional possibility of up to three years of supervised release. Vartanniavartanians faces up to 10 years in prison and a similar fine for her offense, each coupled with the potential of supervised release and probation stipulations. ICE ERO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI's Phoenix Division were responsible for conducting the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
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