Haider Zafar, Real Estate Scam, Ohio 2023

A former Dublin resident has been sentenced to prison for running a $10 million real estate scam.

Haider Zafar, 36, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, one count of filing a false federal income tax return, and three counts of failing to file federal income tax returns.

The scam involved false representations about investments in Pakistani real estate, with Zafar telling the primary victim that his uncle was the Minister of Defence of Pakistan and was responsible for acquiring land on behalf of the Pakistani government.

Zafar solicited the victim to be his partner in acquiring the land prior to the Pakistani government purchasing it, then selling the land to the government at a greatly inflated price.

Between January 2008 and February 2010, Zafar caused the victim to wire $10,115,000 into accounts he controlled, which he then used to support a lavish lifestyle, including purchases of luxury automobiles and watches.

Zafar reported a taxable income of zero on his 2007 federal income tax return, omitting $221,500 in taxable income. He earned more than $10 million between 2008 and 2010, but did not file income tax returns.

Zafar was arrested at Port Columbus Airport on May 25 and has been in custody since his arrest.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Zafar will file income tax returns and pay taxes for 2007 through 2010. He also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment of $10,115,000.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Filing a false income tax return with the IRS is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Willfully failing to file an income tax return with the IRS is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of $25,000.

Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. will schedule a date for sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart acknowledged the investigation by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the assistance of the FBI office in Miami, Florida, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Dale Williams, who is representing the United States in this case.

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