Jonathan Loadholt, 37, of Staten Island, New York, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a murder-for-hire and stalking plot orchestrated by the Government of Iran against journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman imposed the sentence after Loadholt previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to the prison term, Loadholt will serve three years of supervised release.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said, "Tehran attempted to murder a U.S. journalist in the United States simply because she exposed a few of that regime’s many abuses." U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York added that Iran "tried to silence Ms. Alinejad because of her efforts to stand up to the Iranian regime and expose its discriminatory treatment of women, corruption, and human rights abuses." FBI Assistant Director Donald Holstead emphasized the FBI's commitment to preventing foreign powers from harming individuals in the U.S.
The plot, directed by high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), targeted Ms. Alinejad due to her advocacy for gender equality and civil liberties in Iran. This was not the first attempt; Iranian intelligence previously plotted to kidnap her in 2020-2021, and the IRGC hired Russian Mob members in 2022.
In 2024, Loadholt was recruited by co-defendant Carlisle Rivera, who was hired by Farhad Shakeri on IRGC instructions. Shakeri offered $100,000 for Alinejad's murder. Loadholt and Rivera conducted surveillance, purchased a firearm and "burner" cellphones, and stalked Ms. Alinejad, including at Fairfield University and a Brooklyn residence. Loadholt expressed frustration over delayed payments, messaging Rivera, "I’m so frustrated son I’m like ready to jump out the window."
Loadholt was arrested on November 7, 2024, before the plot could be completed, with law enforcement recovering ammunition at his residence. Carlisle Rivera was previously sentenced to 15 years in prison in January 2026 for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, while Farhad Shakeri remains at large. The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force led the investigation.