Ex-Director of Orange County Democratic Party Pleads Guilty to Attempted Fraud and Bribery Scheme

A file photograph of a judge's gavel. Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES—A former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County pleaded guilty April 14 to a felony charge for attempting to defraud one of her political consultancy firm’s clients.

Melahat Rafiei, 45, of Anaheim, entered her plea to attempted wire fraud in Los Angeles federal court. Sentencing was set for Oct. 13, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.