Cannabis licensing efforts tied to Anaheim corruption investigation

Democratic leader Melahat Rafiei, also a consultant to cannabis companies, confirms she’s cooperated with FBI for three years.

The lure of potential profits, and the fertile ground for corruption, that surround the legal cannabis industry helped unravel a series of scandals playing out this week in Anaheim.

Longtime Democratic leader and cannabis consultant Melahat Rafiei on Thursday confirmed she is the FBI’s prime cooperating witness in a corruption investigation that has focused on Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, among others, and led to federal charges against Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament.

This week, that investigation stalled a $320 million deal to sell Angel Stadium. It also has led tocalls for Sidhu to resign.

Rafiei, who is a member of the Democratic National Committee and involved in campaigns for a number of prominent candidates, told the Register she’s been cooperating with the FBI in an investigation focused on corruption in Anaheim since 2019. She was arrested then on charges of “theft or bribery” involving federal funds related to a cannabis scheme — allegations she denies and that subsequently have been dismissed without prejudice, which means they could be filed again later. [Read More @ The Orange County Register]

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