Ex-OpenAI Engineer Booked Flight Before Arrest for Bugging Headquarters
Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old former engineer at OpenAI, booked a one-way trip to Saudi Arabia for himself, his wife, and another family member prior to his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to court filings unsealed on October 15, 2026.
FBI Arrests Alfozan After Listening Device Found at OpenAI
The FBI arrested Alfozan on October 9, 2026, after personnel at OpenAI discovered a hidden listening device inside a conference room at the artificial intelligence company’s San Francisco headquarters, aljazeera.com reported. Alfozan had spent approximately 15 months working for OpenAI before his termination the week prior to his arrest.
Federal prosecutors charged Alfozan with using or endeavoring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications. The offense carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison alongside a $250,000 fine upon conviction.
Prosecutors Claim Alfozan Intended to Flee to Saudi Arabia
Court documents show that Alfozan was scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia on October 12. Prosecutors disclosed the travel arrangements to a judge on October 8 within a motion seeking to seal the criminal complaint against him. In that filing, the government argued that Alfozan possessed both the means and the incentive to flee the United States.
William Pernik, attorney for Alfozan, stated that he and his client intend to contest the criminal allegations and fight his ongoing detention in court.
We trust that the American justice system will treat our client fairly, despite the narrative painted in the media at this time. Our client is a well regarded professional with long standing ties to the community. He is presumed innocent and is entitled to fair treatment and due process of law. The emphasis on his national origin and therefore suggestions of lack of trustworthiness or flight risk harken back to dark chapters of our nation’s history that we intend to fight fully.
Pernik maintained his client’s innocence as legal proceedings advance.
Alfozan Previously Worked at Meta and Microsoft
The case has focused attention on corporate security and potential espionage risks within frontier artificial intelligence firms as global competition intensifies. Prior to his employment at OpenAI in July 2025, Alfozan worked as a systems engineer at Meta and completed an internship at Microsoft, according to a LinkedIn profile matching his name.
Public records also identify Alfozan as a venture partner at Raed Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Riyadh. Other partners at the firm include Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family. Raed Ventures announced Alfozan’s appointment in February 2025, describing him as a seasoned professional with extensive experience in tech startups tasked with identifying promising investment opportunities and supporting startup growth.