On October 18, 2009, Tajbakhsh was convicted on two counts of espionage—"contacting foreign elements" and acting against national security—and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Public statements of support and demands for the charges to be dropped and for Tajbakhsh to be released were issued by universities, nongovernmental organizations, celebrities, politicians—from rock singer Sting to the European Union and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The White House called the charges baseless, stating that Tajbakhsh "has dedicated his life to fostering greater understanding between Iran and the international community. He embodies what is possible between our two countries." In late November 2009, Tajbakhsh was threatened with new espionage charges carrying the death penalty, sparking further international concern and outrage. He had spent much of 2009 in solitary confinement until being transferred to a villa on the Evin Prison grounds, where he was detained together with prominent reformists who had also been tried in the mass show trial.