NASHVILLE, Tenn. - June 10, 2019 - Tooraj Sohrabi Sedeh, 50, of Franklin, Tennessee, pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal and making a false statement, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
On Nov. 21, 2018, a Deputy U.S. Marshal was at the Home Depot on Powell Avenue, in Nashville, when he observed Sedeh walking out of the store wearing a shirt with U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) markings, including embroidered markings, patches and collar insignia. Sedeh was also observed to have a badge holder on a neck chain with a USMS patch attached to it and was wearing a holstered firearm and handcuffs on his hip.
The Deputy Marshal followed Sedeh from the store and asked him if he worked for the U.S. Marshals Service. Sedeh answered yes and stated he was assigned to the Nashville office. Sedeh was asked to produce his credentials and stated that he did not have them. The Deputy U.S. Marshal then identified himself and upon further inquiry, Sedeh stated he worked for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department and was also a “freelance" bail bondsman and had worked for Grumpy’s Bail bonds. These claims were found to be false and Sedeh had no affiliation with these agencies or the USMS. The Deputy U.S. Marshal also observed Sedeh’s vehicle to have a law enforcement association sticker on it and shirts hanging inside with law enforcement insignias as well as ballistic vest carriers with U.S. Marshal insignias attached.
On Nov. 28, 2018, the U.S. Marshals Service executed a federal search warrant at Sedeh’s home in Franklin, Tennessee and recovered a variety of clothing items marked with USMS insignias and other law enforcement tactical and service equipment.
Sedeh also impersonated a Deputy U.S. Marshal on other occasions, including between Sept. 28, 2018 and October 4, 2018; on Nov. 15, 2018; and between Nov. 25, 2018 and Dec. 10, 2018.
Sedeh faces up to three years in prison on each count of impersonation and up to five years in prison for making false statements and a $250,000 fine on each count when he is sentenced on Oct. 21, 2019.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Suedekum. # #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
