LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A Los Angeles venture capitalist who donated $900,000 to President Donald Trump's inaugural committee pleaded guilty today to obstruction of justice for impeding a federal investigation into the fund.
Imaad Zuberi, 49, of Arcadia pleaded guilty last year to separate charges brought by Los Angeles prosecutors arising from earlier campaign donations, federal lobbying and tax violations.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips consolidated both matters for sentencing on July 27.
The obstruction charge stems from a federal investigation into the source of the $900,000 Zuberi donated through his company, Avenue Ventures, to Trump's inaugural committee in December 2016.
In the earlier case, Zuberi pleaded guilty last November to falsifying records to conceal his work as a foreign agent while lobbying high-level U.S. government officials.
“Mr. Zuberi's multi-faceted scheme allowed him to line his pockets by concealing the fact that he was representing foreign clients, obtaining access for clients by making a long series of illegal contributions, and skimming money paid by his clients,'' U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said when Zuberi was charged with the lobbying case in October.
“Mr. Zuberi circumvented laws designed to insulate U.S. policy and our election process from foreign intervention,'' Hanna said. “This investigation has halted his illegal conduct, will result in several felony convictions, and could send him to prison for a lengthy period of time.''
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