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 fraud for trying to defraud one of her cannabis clients, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Jan. 19.
“She further admitted in court documents that she agreed to bribe two members of the Irvine City Council—both on cannabis-related matters,” the DOJ said in a release.
Rafiei could not be reached for comment Jan. 19. In an emailed statement to Orange County political leaders, she confirmed that she had accepted the deal, according to the Voice of OC….