Two Eastern European organized crime leaders were convicted March 20, for their roles in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad. The conspiracy, ordered by the Iranian government, involved a planned assassination on U.S. soil.
Rafat Amirov, 46, of Iran, and Polad Omarov, 40, of Georgia, were found guilty on five federal charges, including murder-for-hire and attempted murder in aid of racketeering.
The convictions followed a trial overseen by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. Both men face sentencing on Sept. 17 and could spend decades or life in prison. They were charged in October of last year.
Masih, in a video message on the X social platform on Friday, gave thanks to her “adopted country,” the United States, for protecting her from her “birth country,” which she said tried to kill her….