DHS agent impersonator who bribed Secret Service pleads guilty to related charges

A Washington, D.C., man who posed as a Department of Homeland Security agent to ingratiate himself with federal agents through gifts and rent-free apartments has pleaded guilty to the related charges in a deal in which he'll cooperate with federal prosecutors in the case, according to the Justice Department.

The deal, as well as new charges and information about the case, was made public Monday in the plea hearing for Arian Taherzadeh and by the department. 

The case has so far resulted in four Secret Service members being put on administrative leave, according to court documents obtained by CNN.

Taherzadeh and co-defendant Haider Ali, 36, were charged earlier this year with falsely impersonating federal officers and possessing illegal, large-capacity ammunition magazines. 

Taherzadeh' scheme, in part, involved him posing as a federal law enforcement officer to secure the apartments, which he provided rent-free to two Secret Service employees and for which he never paid the owner, according to the Justice Department. The scheme unfolded from December 2018 to April 2022.

Taherzadeh, 40, was also charged with filming individuals, without their consent, engaging in sexual activity, CNN also reports.

He pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to the three charges and faces 37 to 46 months behind bars, according to sentencing guidelines.

Taherzadeh and Ali have been on home incarceration since April. Ali has pleaded not guilty.

One of the Secret Service agent for whom Taherzadeh offered to purchase an expensive rifle was on the first lady's protective detail at the time, according to court documents.