NYC Gazette

An indictment was filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Asif Merchant, also known as "Asif Raza Merchant," with attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and murder-for-hire. The charges are part of a scheme to assassinate a U.S. politician or government official on American soil. Law enforcement foiled the plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant, who was previously arrested and charged by complaint in July 2024, remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

The indictment was announced by Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office (FBI).

"The Justice Department will not tolerate Iran’s efforts to target our country’s public officials and endanger our national security," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "As these terrorism and murder-for-hire charges against Asif Merchant demonstrate, we will continue to hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against Americans."

"As alleged, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate U.S. politicians and government officials. Today’s indictment is a message to terrorists here and abroad that my Office and the Department of Justice will continue to take all steps necessary to protect the country against foreign threats," stated United States Attorney Peace.

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation for the FBI's field offices in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Albany for their partnership on this case. He also thanked the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance.

"Merchant’s efforts to allegedly recruit criminal associates for the murder of American politicians are representative of various threats our nation can face from afar," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Curtis.

Court filings reveal that around April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with his assassination scheme. This individual reported Merchant's conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (CS).

In early June 2024, Merchant met with this CS in New York where he detailed his assassination plot involving multiple criminal schemes: stealing documents or USB drives from targets' homes; planning protests; and killing a politician or government official.

Merchant later met purported hitmen—undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (UCs)—in mid-June 2024 in New York where he outlined his plan further and paid them $5,000 as an advance payment for their services.

On July 12th 2024 law enforcement agents arrested Merchant before he could leave the country.

The charges remain allegations at this stage; Merchant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case is being handled by the National Security & Cybercrime Section with Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Gilbert Rein and Douglas Pravda leading prosecution efforts alongside Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne from DOJ's Counterterrorism Section within its National Security Division.

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