The accused was identified as Sharon Gohari. They are naturalized U.S. citizens living between Iran and Nassau County, New York.
Authorities said Goharie conducted an ongoing scheme from at least December 2020 through May 2025 in which he solicited and received payments from Iranian nationals and others trying to enter the United States illegally. He arranged and facilitated their travel, including assisting with visa applications at the Mexican Embassy in Iran and organizing journeys into the United States through Mexico and other transit countries.
Gohari worked with colleagues in Iran and elsewhere to charge thousands of dollars per client. At least one individual he assisted is alleged to have ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. The man was later detained by U.S. border authorities.
During the course of the investigation, federal agents also discovered child sexual abuse material on Gohari’s phone, including multiple videos depicting the rape of children. Some of the material involves children as young as five years old.
Investigators found hundreds of photos and videos on his devices showing women in public places in New York City, including on trains and in cafes, that were recorded without their knowledge. Some of the photos were taken from close range or in a way that suggested the victim was being followed. Gohari shared some of the material with overseas accounts, including one based in Iran.
In communications after receiving the child sexual abuse material, Gohari stated his intention to seek out a sexual partner at a high school.
The case involves immigration-related crimes and child exploitation offences. The alien smuggling charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of 10 years in prison, while the child sexual abuse material charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for later.
