PHOENIX, AZ – An Iranian illegal alien and his wife, who is reportedly a naturalized citizen, pleaded guilty in federal court this past August to charges connected to a June incident where officials say the wife of the illegal alien threatened to shoot Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were at her residence in Tempe.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, 41-year-old Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand and his wife, 37-year-old Linet Vartanniavartanians, pleaded guilty to various charges in federal court on August 21st relating to an incident in Tempe, Arizona, on June 21st where the couple engaged in a sort of standoff with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers at the suspects’ home.
Officials say ICE agents were in the process of executing an immigration enforcement operation when arriving at the suspects’ home, with Vartanniavartanians reportedly issuing verbal threats to shoot any ICE agent who opted to breach the couple’s front door.
Court documents detail how Vartanniavartanians told ICE agents at the time of the incident, “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.”
Vartanniavartanians’ plea also showcased her admitting to saying, “Anybody trying to enter my house is going to be shooted. I don’t allow anybody in my house, including ICE,” as well as “I go outside the backyard, and I’ll just shoot them in the head,” during the encounter with ICE agents this past June.
During the incident, Eidivand was also reportedly in possession of two firearms, a fact he admitted to in court during his August plea deal.
Eidivand pleaded guilty to alien in possession of firearms and ammunition, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison along with fines up to $250,000.
As for Eidivand’s wife, she pleaded guilty to threats against a federal law enforcement officer, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000.
ICE ERO Phoenix Field Office Director John E. Cantu issued a statement following the accepted plea deal, saying, “This was a harrowing situation. We had an armed illegal alien whose wife was threatening to kill our officers. It’s against the law for illegal aliens to possess firearms and to threaten federal law enforcement personnel. This guilty plea will permit justice to be served, while establishing the rule of law.”
Sentencing for the couple is slated for November 26th.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, 41-year-old Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand and his wife, 37-year-old Linet Vartanniavartanians, pleaded guilty to various charges in federal court on August 21st relating to an incident in Tempe, Arizona, on June 21st where the couple engaged in a sort of standoff with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers at the suspects’ home.
Officials say ICE agents were in the process of executing an immigration enforcement operation when arriving at the suspects’ home, with Vartanniavartanians reportedly issuing verbal threats to shoot any ICE agent who opted to breach the couple’s front door.
Court documents detail how Vartanniavartanians told ICE agents at the time of the incident, “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.”
Vartanniavartanians’ plea also showcased her admitting to saying, “Anybody trying to enter my house is going to be shooted. I don’t allow anybody in my house, including ICE,” as well as “I go outside the backyard, and I’ll just shoot them in the head,” during the encounter with ICE agents this past June.
During the incident, Eidivand was also reportedly in possession of two firearms, a fact he admitted to in court during his August plea deal.
Eidivand pleaded guilty to alien in possession of firearms and ammunition, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison along with fines up to $250,000.
As for Eidivand’s wife, she pleaded guilty to threats against a federal law enforcement officer, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000.
ICE ERO Phoenix Field Office Director John E. Cantu issued a statement following the accepted plea deal, saying, “This was a harrowing situation. We had an armed illegal alien whose wife was threatening to kill our officers. It’s against the law for illegal aliens to possess firearms and to threaten federal law enforcement personnel. This guilty plea will permit justice to be served, while establishing the rule of law.”
Sentencing for the couple is slated for November 26th.
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Comments
2025-09-05T19:40-0400 | Comment by: Larry
Until we start making an example of these pukes, they will continue to make our lives miserable !!!
2025-09-05T20:18-0400 | Comment by: James
Get them both out of our country!
2025-09-05T20:44-0400 | Comment by: Christopher
Funny how the wife made the death threats. These two, like so many, KNOW HOW TO WORK THE SYSTEM. Time to push for the full penalties,
2025-09-05T22:28-0400 | Comment by: Dean
Stay tuned for the sentencing,probably probation.Justice in America is a joke anymore.They should get the max but we know how it works for these type of people if you want to call them that.I personally would call them many things,none of which would be allowed on this sissy comment site.
2025-09-05T23:49-0400 | Comment by: dorothy
NEEDS to be deported after time served!!
2025-09-05T23:49-0400 | Comment by: dorothy
NEEDS to be deported after time served!!
2025-09-05T23:49-0400 | Comment by: dorothy
NEEDS to be deported after time served!!
2025-09-05T23:49-0400 | Comment by: dorothy
NEEDS to be deported after time served!!
2025-09-12T07:28-0400 | Comment by: Dave
Get them out. Prison’s are full enough. And we also need room for 90% of Congress traitors.