From Designer Labels to Drones: The Double Life of an L.A. Arms Broker

LOS ANGELES — To her followers on social media, Shamim Mafi was the embodiment of the California dream. Her feed was a curated gallery of high-end indulgence: posing with a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz roadster, frequenting luxury boutiques, and documenting lavish international travels.

​But federal prosecutors allege that behind the designer labels and polished digital facade lay a far darker reality. Mafi, 44, a permanent U.S. resident living in the affluent Woodland Hills neighborhood, was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as she attempted to board a flight to Istanbul. She now stands accused of acting as a high-level weapons broker for the Iranian government.

​The $70 Million Deal

​According to a federal criminal complaint, Mafi operated through an Oman-based front company, Atlas International Business LLC (also known as Atlas Tech). Prosecutors allege that in early 2025, she facilitated a massive $70 million contract for the sale of Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones to the Sudanese military.

​The Justice Department claims Mafi didn’t just sign paperwork; she was deeply embedded in the logistics of the deal. She allegedly coordinated travel for Sudanese delegations to Iran and personally submitted a letter of intent to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to procure 55,000 bomb fuses. For her role in the drone transaction alone, authorities say she was paid more than $7 million.

​A Life Under Scrutiny

​Mafi’s history in the United States has become a flashpoint for political scrutiny. An Iranian national, she moved to the U.S. in 2013 and was granted lawful permanent residency in October 2016. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche noted the stark contrast between her legal status and her alleged actions.

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​”While enjoying a life in the United States, this woman was allegedly breaking the law by brokering lethal weapons deals with Iranian adversaries,” Blanche said in a statement.

​Investigators revealed that Mafi’s ties to Tehran were extensive. Digital forensics allegedly uncovered 62 points of contact between Mafi and an Iranian intelligence officer between December 2022 and June 2025. During this same window, her social media continued to broadcast a life of leisure, effectively masking her alleged role in fueling the bloody civil war in Sudan.

​Legal Consequences

​Mafi is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Under U.S. law, any business involving goods or services tied to the Iranian government requires explicit permission from the Treasury Department—clearance Mafi allegedly never sought.

​The Woodland Hills resident made her initial court appearance Monday in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted on all charges, the woman who once showcased the pinnacle of luxury faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

​The case continues to develop as federal agents look into whether other U.S.-based associates assisted in the laundering of her multimillion-dollar commissions.