US prosecutors allege ex-OpenAI employee had Saudi royal family ties in espionage case

Prosecutors also say Alfozan's wife and son left the US on October 11, two days after his arrest, on a one-way business-class ticket to Doha, Qatar, paid for by a member of the Saudi military. The wife told FBI agents they were permanently moving back to Saudi Arabia and that Alfozan intended to do the same, despite having applied for US citizenship. A search of Alfozan's residence found electronic components similar to the custom recording device installed in an OpenAI conference room, and his iPhone contained photos from September 22–28, 2026, showing at least one additional concealed recording device and input/output panels on devices in OpenAI buildings. Alfozan's attorneys argue he did not flee when he learned OpenAI had found the device eight to ten days before his arrest; prosecutors say he presents a serious flight risk.