A married couple has pleaded guilty after a June confrontation at a Tempe home with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.

Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, 41, an Iranian national, and his wife, Linet Vartanniavartanians, 37, pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Eidivand pleaded guilty to alien in possession of firearms and ammunition. Vartanniavartanians pleaded guilty to threats against a federal law enforcement officer. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.

In his plea, Eidivand, who authorities said is “a citizen of Iran without legal authority to be in the United States,” admitted that, on or about June 21, in Tempe he had two firearms, which is prohibited for “illegal aliens,” according to the release.

Vartanniavartanians admitted that, on the same date, when ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel came to her Tempe home to contact her husband, “she made threats intended to impede, intimidate and interfere with the officers engaged in the performance of their official duties,” the release stated.

Vartanniavartanias made the following statements, officials said:

• “I’m not letting anybody enter my home without my, you know, permission. So anybody that tries to invade my home, I’m going to shoot them. Like I said, I have a gun, and it’s loaded.”
• “Anybody trying to enter my house is going to be shooted. I don’t allow anybody in my house, including ICE.”
• When asked about the location of the gun, I responded “in my hand right now.”
• “I go outside the backyard, and I’ll just shoot them in the head.”

A conviction for alien in possession of firearms and ammunition carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The maximum term of probation is five years, including a minimum term of one year if probation is imposed.

A conviction for threats against a federal law enforcement officer carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The maximum term of probation is five years, including a minimum term of one year if probation is imposed.