Did a foreign national from Iran donate $8,000 to influence a Lake Forest election? Based on my research, it seems probable

$8,000 donation from “Nezhat Mahbod” to “Citizens for Good Government” campaign committee

Here is the link from the Form 497 detailing Nezhat Mahbod’s $8,000 donation to the “Citizens for Good Government” campaign committee:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lg9d34ndg4n3e21/Citizens%20for%20Good%20Government%20in%20Lake%20Forest%20Opposing%20Robinson_497_2016_1027_Nezhat%20Mahbod.pdf?dl=0

Councilman Adam Nick also donated $15,000 to this same campaign committee:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eckm1s0c5r3gcns/Citizens%20for%20Good%20Government%20in%20Lake%20Forest%20Opposing%20Robinson_2016_0925-1022_Nick%20donation.pdf?dl=0

About “Nezhat Mahbod”

At first glance, "Nezhat Mahbod" seems like a pretty unique name. However, researching more on Google, there are only 186 search results using "Nezhat Mahbod." I can only find one person on the planet with this name and this person lives in Iran, according to the only 2 personal listing websites (from LinkedIn profiles) of anyone with that name:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nezhat-mahbod-60704a36

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nezhat-mahbod-8a960266

Consistent with this LinkedIn profile, “Mrs. Nezhat Mahbod” is listed as the owner of Asia Instruments Ltd in this link with an Iranian phone number : http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Nezhat-Mahbod/1111760479

“Nezhat Mahbod” is quoted in this article as the Managing Director of Asia Instruments Ltd: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/iran-defends-oil-production-face-144627026.html

Asia Instruments Ltd is affiliated somehow (supplier, affiliate, subsidiary, etc.) with the French company, Bernard Controls, via this link: http://www.bernardcontrols.pro/pdf/2108,oil-gaz-web.pdf

Adam Nick also says he was born in Iran and migrated from Iran in his late teenage years. Based on this shared nationality with "Nezhat Mahbod," I can see this donation to a Lake Forest City Council campaign committee appears to be more than just a coincidence.

“Citizens for Good Government” campaign committee has deep ties to Lake Forest Pro-Recall Committee

• Both groups have the same person as Treasurer: Mary Azevedo in Oceanside, California with the same listed phone number of (760) 439-5979
• Same donors – both groups only have substantial donations from Councilman Adam Nick ($15,000+ combined) and Councilman James Gardner ($35,000 combined)
• Leah Basile was the Treasurer and leader of the Lake Forest Recall committee and has received in-kind donations from Adam Nick, donor to both committees, for both Nick's and Basile's November 2016 campaigns.

Foreign donations are a Federal Crime

According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) at http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.shtml, “the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.”

“The following groups and individuals are considered ‘foreign nationals’ and are, therefore, subject to the prohibition:”

• Foreign governments;
• Foreign political parties;
• Foreign corporations;
• Foreign associations;
• Foreign partnerships;
• Individuals with foreign citizenship; and
• Immigrants who do not have a "green card."

Examples of Foreign donations

1. “The Federal Election Commission disclosed Friday that it has imposed a record-setting $719,000 in fines against participants in the 1996 Democratic Party fund-raising scandals involving contributions from China, Korea and other foreign sources.” http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/21/nation/na-fec21

2. “Federal election officials levied the largest fine ever assessed for an illegal campaign contribution by an individual, imposing the punishment Friday on a German national who gave more than $400,000 to state, local and national candidates in 1993 and 1994.”

“The fine of $323,000 was assessed against Thomas Kramer, a financier and developer who lives in Florida but is not a legal U.S. resident. The 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act bars foreign citizens, corporations or foreign countries from giving to political campaigns.” http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/19/news/mn-14283

3. “The complaint names the Australian Labor Party — a group that espouses socialist principles and policies similar to those Sanders supports — and says both violated the Federal Elections Campaign Act (FECA) and the commission’s regulations, by accepting, making and/or receiving prohibited foreign contributions.” http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/25/exclusive-bernie-sanders-allegedly-broke-federal-election-law-used-foreign-staffers-in-several-states/

Summary

1. “Nezhat Mahbod” donated $8,000 to a Lake Forest political committee, along with Adam Nick who donated $15,000 to the same committee.

2. The only person on the entire earth with the name “Nezhat Mahbod” is from Iran, according to Google and other websites detailed above.

3. Adam Nick is also from Iran.

4. If “Nezhat Mahbod” is not a United States citizen, the group “Citizens for Good Government in Lake Forest Opposing Robinson” broke the election laws of United States by accepting foreign donations.

5. “Citizens for Good Government in Lake Forest Opposing Robinson” has ties to the Lake Forest Recall, Adam Nick, James Gardner and Leah Basile.

This is a serious accusation and should be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency.