Qanon Darling, Perennial Gop L.a. Congressional Candidate Sentenced To 4 Years For Fraud

A Republican from nan South Bay who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars moving unsuccessfully against Rep. Maxine Waters 4 times while promoting QAnon conspiracy theories was sentenced to 4 years successful national situation for misusing run funds, nan Department of Justice announced Monday.

Omar Navarro, 37, pleaded blameworthy successful June to a azygous count of ligament fraud for defrauding his ain predetermination campaign. The perennial campaigner had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars complete nan years from salient right-wing figures while promoting QAnon conspiracy theories but ne'er cracked 25% of nan vote.

He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who ordered Navarro instantly remanded into national custody. A restitution proceeding will beryllium scheduled astatine a later day to find really overmuch money Navarro must salary to compensate victims.

Narvarro ran to correspond Los Angeles County residents successful California’s 43rd Congressional District successful nan 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022 predetermination cycles.

From July 2017 to February 2021, he funneled tens of thousands of dollars successful donations to his run committee backmost to himself done his mother, Dora Asghari, and friend Zacharias Diamantides-Abel, prosecutors said. In total, his strategy diverted astir $266,00 successful run funds, much than $100,000 of which went straight into his pockets, prosecutors said.

“Defendant could person utilized that money to bargain power advertisements, acquisition advertisement space, aliases nonstop a mailer to assistance him successful nan election,” prosecutors wrote successful their sentencing memorandum. “He chose alternatively to bargain his donors’ dollars and money his lavish lifestyle, including utilizing it to salary for Las Vegas trips, fancy dinners, and moreover criminal defense attorneys for his criminal stalking complaint aft he had nan audacity to usage his run money to salary a backstage interrogator to stalk her.”

He group up a sham kindness called nan United Latino Foundation to embezzle further costs for his individual use. He besides wrote thousands of dollars worthy of checks to Brava Consulting, a institution owned by his mother. This money was allegedly costs for run work, but nan bulk of it was simply funneled backmost to him.

Initially, Navarro denied nan allegations publicly, writing connected X past twelvemonth that nan claims were “baseless” and suggested Waters herself was down nan investigation. He pleaded blameworthy months later.

Prosecutors based on that a important condemnation was basal fixed nan “prolonged and pervasive” quality of his fraud and to discourage others from engaging successful akin behaviour “that undermines nan very cloth of nan run finance system, a strategy designed to beforehand spot successful government.”

The different 2 group connected to nan lawsuit were besides criminally charged.

Navarro’s mother pleaded blameworthy successful June 2025 to 1 count of making mendacious statements aft lying to nan FBI erstwhile questioned astir receiving costs from her son’s campaign. She will look up to 5 years successful national situation astatine her April 13 sentencing hearing.

Diamantides-Abel pleaded blameworthy successful May 2025 to 1 count of conspiracy and awaits sentencing.