Executive Summary
- Omar Navarro faces sentencing Monday for wire fraud involving campaign funds.
- The former candidate admitted to using donations for luxury trips and legal defense fees.
- Navarro’s mother and a friend were implicated in a kickback scheme to funnel cash.
- Prosecutors cited falsified records submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
Omar Navarro, a Torrance resident and former Republican candidate who challenged U.S. Representative Maxine Waters in four congressional elections, is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday for sentencing regarding a wire fraud conviction. The 37-year-old pleaded guilty in June 2025 to a single count of wire fraud, admitting to a scheme involving the misappropriation of campaign funds for personal enrichment.
According to the plea agreement filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Navarro acknowledged that he directed tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations toward personal expenses rather than election efforts. Federal prosecutors outlined that despite knowing funds were restricted for campaign use, Navarro conspired to siphon money for his own enjoyment. Court documents indicate that Navarro unsuccessfully ran for California’s 43rd Congressional District seat in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
The indictment, unsealed in September 2023, details a conspiracy involving Navarro’s mother, Dora Asghari, and a friend, Zacharias Diamantides-Abel. Prosecutors state that Navarro issued campaign checks to these individuals, who would then cash them or deposit the funds before transferring cash back to Navarro. Court papers show that between December 2017 and June 2020, Diamantides-Abel received approximately $49,260 and Asghari received $58,625 from the campaign. Investigators noted that Asghari utilized a shell company to facilitate the transfer of funds back to Navarro.
Federal filings reveal that the embezzled funds were used to finance personal trips to Las Vegas and Northern California wine country. Additionally, Navarro admitted to using the money to pay two criminal defense attorneys who represented him during a 2020 felony stalking case. The indictment further alleges that Navarro falsely reported these expenditures to the Federal Election Commission as legitimate campaign expenses. Authorities also noted the creation of a sham charity, the United Latino Foundation, as a vehicle to further embezzle funds.
Court records confirm that Asghari, 61, pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI investigators and is scheduled for sentencing on April 13. Diamantides-Abel, 37, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in May 2025 and was placed in a diversion program.
Campaign Finance Accountability
The sentencing of a former congressional candidate highlights the rigorous enforcement of federal campaign finance laws designed to protect donor integrity. By prosecuting the conversion of political contributions for personal luxury and unrelated legal fees, the judicial system reinforces the strict boundaries surrounding election funding. This case serves as a notable example of the federal government’s capacity to audit and penalize the falsification of records submitted to the Federal Election Commission, ensuring that political actors remain accountable to the public trust.
It is important to note that under the U.S. legal system, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and a guilty plea represents an admission of specific charges within a legal framework.
