LOS ANGELES—A former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County pleaded guilty April 14 to a felony charge for attempting to defraud one of her political consultancy firm’s clients. Melahat Rafiei, 45, of Anaheim, entered her plea to attempted wire fraud in Los Angeles federal court. Sentencing was set for Oct. 13, according…

The Irvine City Council Jan. 24 failed to pass a motion to launch an independent investigation after political consultant Melahat Rafiei last week admitted engaging in a bribery scheme in the city in 2018. In an FBI corruption probe, Rafiei, 45, also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of attempted wire fraud against one of…

The Irvine City Council Jan. 24 failed to pass a motion to launch an independent investigation after political consultant Melahat Rafiei last week—in a plea agreement relating to an FBI corruption probe—admitted engaging in a bribery scheme in Irvine in 2018. Rafiei, 45, also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of attempted wire…

Former California Democratic Party official Melahat Rafiei has accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors in connection to an FBI corruption probe in Orange County. Rafiei, 45, the former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County and a political consultant, agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of attempting to commit wire…

ANAHEIM, Calif.—A state representative for the Democratic National Committee has resigned from her elected leadership roles in the organization as a result of a corruption investigation in Anaheim, according to multiple reports. Rafiei told the Orange County Register she was resigning as secretary for the California Democratic Party, as well as from her appointed roles…