Residents of Ana Walshe-managed DC building fear phony agents coverup

WASHINGTON — Residents of a Washington, DC, condo constructing managed by lacking government Ana Walshe inform The Submit that they consider her firm, Tishman Speyer, has been hiding details about phony federal brokers who have been busted after infiltrating the Secret Service final yr — and lately admitted to “voyeurism” within the constructing as properly.

The tenants affiliation of the Crossing constructing within the Navy Yard neighborhood close to the Capitol says they concern that Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali, who pleaded responsible in August to crimes together with secretly filming ladies in no less than one of many constructing’s models, will keep away from a public airing of their actions and that the corporate is withholding particulars from them.

Walshe, 39, was described to The Submit as “very forceful and shady” in her dealing with of the aftermath of the scandal — even claiming to tenants on one event that she wasn’t Ana Walshe in an obvious effort to duck their questions following an April 6 FBI raid that busted Ali and Taherzadeh.

Many questions stay unanswered concerning the weird episode, during which the duo stockpiled tactical gear, weapons, ammunition and surveillance gear — whereas offering free lease to a Secret Service agent and lavishing items and flashing badges to an array of native and federal regulation enforcement officers whereas claiming to signify the non-existent US Particular Police.

One tenant offered The Submit with a photograph of what one of many imposters mentioned was a grasp key code, that means they could have been in a position to plant cameras all through the constructing — as questions stay about whether or not they have been related to international actors in addition to Washington safety businesses whereas infiltrating the advanced.

“I’m very involved concerning the voyeurism allegations and after the boys pled responsible, I tried a number of occasions to realize data concerning which areas and models had been impacted, and if mine had been one in every of them, however by no means obtained any solutions,” a feminine member of the tenant affiliation’s board, who requested to not be recognized by title, advised The Submit.

“I consider the administration staff right here is doing the whole lot they will to keep away from sharing any details about the state of affairs in any respect, even data not lined by an investigation, which makes me consider the knowledge they’re withholding may very well be significantly detrimental to them.”

An individual who lived within the advanced and was near the 2 males, whom constructing administration leaned on when safety points occurred, mentioned that “I used to be in a position to witness a lot of [the infiltration’s] inside workings. They have been in a position to set up audio and video surveillance in and out of doors their models, in addition to probably different areas of the property.”

“I personally seen on Arian’s telephone video footage exhibiting residents engaged in nefarious conduct from cameras in different areas of the constructing, which weren’t related to those of their particular person models,” the supply mentioned.

“At occasions, Arian had used cameras all through the property to search out me, quite than name, when he needed to speak to me in particular person — which made it apparent that he both had entry to the constructing’s frequent space cameras or was in a position to set up his personal system all through the property. Moreover, Arian and Haider had expressed that particular cameras within the constructing have been theirs and never administration’s.”

Walshe, a mom of three who lived in Massachusetts however traveled typically to DC, was regional supervisor for Tishman Speyer. There doesn’t at present look like a hyperlink between her disappearance on New 12 months’s Day and the phony-agents scandal that rocked DC. Walshe’s husband, Brian, a 46-year-old convicted con man, was arrested Sunday for allegedly mendacity to police. He reportedly purchased $450 price of cleansing provides on Jan. 2.

One tenant who requested anonymity to share candid recollections about Ana Walshe known as her “a wolf in sheep’s clothes” and a “very faux particular person” who alternated between a “energy girl” persona and a meek method whereas searching for to close down or placate inquiries about how Haider and Taherzadeh managed to attain 5 models within the upscale constructing, for which they allegedly didn’t pay $222,000 in lease from late 2020 by way of spring 2022.

Walshe “lied to individuals and mentioned issues she needed you to listen to within the second,” one resident recalled.

On the time of her disappearance, Walshe was on the receiving finish of resident calls for for the outcomes of an inner safety evaluation.

Walshe participated in a Sept. 19 assembly with the tenant affiliation board and wouldn’t share any details about the standing of the evaluation, which the corporate disclosed in a Might electronic mail to residents.

Though her disappearance is believed to be linked to her husband and never the faux brokers, the tenant mentioned, “I feel there’s numerous unknowns nonetheless and it’s very odd on the whole.”

Walshe, whom tenants recall talking with a thick Jap European accent, was put answerable for the constructing at roughly the time of the April raid and tenants say it’s unclear if she was chosen to navigate the scandal or if her function started shortly beforehand.

Taherzadeh pleaded responsible in August to crimes together with conspiracy, illegal possession of a large-capacity ammunition-feeding machine and voyeurism. He doesn’t but have a sentencing date. Ali pleaded responsible in October to conspiracy, financial institution fraud and illegal possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding machine. He shall be sentenced Feb. 24.

Along with claiming to be a part of the Division of Homeland Safety, the Justice Division says Ali boasted that he had hyperlinks to Pakistani intelligence. Ali allegedly had a passport with two Iranian visas from 2019 to 2020 in addition to three older Pakistani visas.

“For practically eight months, Crossing DC administration has refused to supply any solutions or readability with regards to residents’ security and safety following the FBI raid,” Nathaniel Hunt Kelly, president of the tenants affiliation, advised The Submit.

“Slightly,” he mentioned, “they’ve achieved the whole lot they will to obfuscate data from residents and most of the people. These dwelling right here have felt nice concern and are left with extra questions than solutions. Tishman Speyer, in my expertise, will function throughout the greyest areas of the regulation, misinform people who search solutions, and supply little to nothing for residents’ peace of thoughts.”

A consultant of Tishman Speyer, which manages an array of different properties together with Manhattan’s well-known 30 Rockefeller Plaza, on Monday pleaded for extra time when contacted by The Submit, citing Walshe’s disappearance, and finally offered no remark for this story.

Court docket filings that reveal some particulars of the infiltration operation describe what may very well be the plot of a spy-thriller film.

“Taherzadeh said that Ali had obtained the digital entry codes and an inventory of all the tenants within the condo advanced,” in line with one courtroom submitting from authorities. “Taherzadeh additional said that Ali was the person that funded most of their day-to-day operation however Taherzadeh didn’t know the supply of the funds.”

Authorities say they seized weapons, sniper scopes, a drone, police lights, protecting vests, fuel masks, “breach gear” and regulation enforcement insignia and gear to make faux IDs.

Authorities say Taherzadeh and Ali “compromised United States Secret Service (USSS) personnel concerned in protecting particulars and with entry to the White Home advanced by lavishing items upon them, together with rent-free dwelling.”

One member of the Secret Service was allowed by the boys to reside rent-free in a penthouse from February 2021 to January 2022 — at a market value of greater than $40,000 — whereas one other federal regulation enforcement officer’s lease within the constructing additionally was lined, authorities say.

In a courtroom submitting, authorities mentioned Taherzadeh “offered members of the USA Secret Service (USSS) and an worker of DHS with, amongst different issues, rent-free residences … iPhones, surveillance techniques, a drone, a flat display screen tv, a case for storing an assault rifle, a generator, and regulation enforcement paraphernalia.”

The conspirators additionally “supplied these people use of, what Taherzadeh represented to be ‘official authorities automobiles’” and allegedly “supplied to buy a $2,000 assault rifle for a United Secret Service Agent assigned to the First Woman’s protecting element.”

The 4 Secret Service brokers have been positioned on go away pending a evaluation of their actions.