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Yet another democrat party official convicted of fraud
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ex-director-of-oc-democratic-party-to-plead-guilty-to-attempted-fraud/ar-AA19SddT
Director of O.C. Democratic party to plead guilty to attempted fraud
A former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County is expected to plead guilty Friday to a felony charge for attempting to defraud one of her political consultancy firm's clients.
Melahat Rafiei, 45, of Anaheim, further admitted in court documents that she agreed to bribe two members of the Irvine City Council -- both on cannabis-related matters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Rafiei, the principal and founder of Progressive Solutions Consulting, a Long Beach-based political consulting firm, is expected to enter her plea to attempted wire fraud in Los Angeles federal court. She was a longtime leader in Orange County's Democratic Party and formerly served as secretary of the California Democratic Party and state representative to the Democratic National Committee.
According to her plea agreement, from April to June 2018, Rafiei agreed to give at least $225,000 in bribes to Irvine City Council members in exchange for their introducing and passing cannabis ordinances.
In April 2018, Rafiei presented a business opportunity to an individual who was then employed in the medical cannabis industry and offered to introduce the person to an Irvine politician.
The next month, Rafiei met with the elected official to discuss introducing an ordinance in Irvine and ultimately benefit the individual's business.
Following the meeting, Rafiei asked the person's business partner to pay her between $350,000 and $400,000 in exchange for getting the cannabis ordinance introduced, according to her plea agreement.
In September and October of 2019, Rafiei falsely represented to a commercial cannabis company owner that, in exchange for a payment of at least $300,000, she would pass a cannabis-related ordinance in Anaheim.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ex-director-of-oc-democratic-party-to-plead-guilty-to-attempted-fraud/ar-AA19SddT
Director of O.C. Democratic party to plead guilty to attempted fraud
A former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County is expected to plead guilty Friday to a felony charge for attempting to defraud one of her political consultancy firm's clients.
Melahat Rafiei, 45, of Anaheim, further admitted in court documents that she agreed to bribe two members of the Irvine City Council -- both on cannabis-related matters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Rafiei, the principal and founder of Progressive Solutions Consulting, a Long Beach-based political consulting firm, is expected to enter her plea to attempted wire fraud in Los Angeles federal court. She was a longtime leader in Orange County's Democratic Party and formerly served as secretary of the California Democratic Party and state representative to the Democratic National Committee.
According to her plea agreement, from April to June 2018, Rafiei agreed to give at least $225,000 in bribes to Irvine City Council members in exchange for their introducing and passing cannabis ordinances.
In April 2018, Rafiei presented a business opportunity to an individual who was then employed in the medical cannabis industry and offered to introduce the person to an Irvine politician.
The next month, Rafiei met with the elected official to discuss introducing an ordinance in Irvine and ultimately benefit the individual's business.
Following the meeting, Rafiei asked the person's business partner to pay her between $350,000 and $400,000 in exchange for getting the cannabis ordinance introduced, according to her plea agreement.
In September and October of 2019, Rafiei falsely represented to a commercial cannabis company owner that, in exchange for a payment of at least $300,000, she would pass a cannabis-related ordinance in Anaheim.
