Plea agreement in $10M Ohio wire-fraud case

COLUMBUS (AP) — A former Ohio man accused of operating a multimillion-dollar real-estate fraud has indicated he’ll plead guilty to several wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion charges.

A 135-count indictment described a scheme under which Haider Zafar allegedly swindled a Washington, D.C., businessman out of $10 million between 2008 and 2010.

In documents filed today in federal court in Columbus, Zafar agreed to plead guilty to 30 counts and to forfeit $10 million.

A witness who testified against Zafar in August alleged Zafar also defrauded Miami Heat basketball players. The basketball players weren’t mentioned in the criminal complaint, but Zafar’s plea deal includes his willingness to resolve a possible federal investigation in Florida.

Zafar’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, says Zafar wants to tie up all loose ends in the case.