United States v. Anthony Zaghab — U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Case summary

On June 8, 2021 the United States charged Anthony Zaghab by information in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, No. 1:21-cr-00188-RBJ, with one count of wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, with the offense located in Denver. At a change-of-plea hearing on August 9, 2021 he entered a plea of guilty to count 1 of the information pursuant to a plea agreement, and the court accepted the plea and found him guilty of the crime charged. A preliminary order of forfeiture treats $120,070 in fraud proceeds he voluntarily returned as subject to forfeiture. At sentencing on December 15, 2021 the court granted the government's motion for an additional one-level decrease under USSG § 3E1.1(b) and ordered 30 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment and restitution of $708,141.

Case at a glance

What was Zaghab sentenced to?

Thirty months of imprisonment on count one and three years of supervised release, with the standard, mandatory and discretionary conditions stated on the record, a $100 special assessment to be paid immediately and restitution totalling $708,141. The court denied one restricted document, granted the government's motion for an additional one-level decrease under USSG § 3E1.1(b), advised him of his right to appeal within 14 days, recommended designation to a facility in Colorado and ordered voluntary surrender within 15 days of designation.

What was forfeited?

The preliminary order of forfeiture, entered on the government's motion under Rule 32.2(b)(2), finds that the $120,070 in fraud proceeds the defendant voluntarily returned is subject to forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) and 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c) based on the commission of the count 1 offense, and provides that the forfeiture money judgment becomes final at sentencing and forms part of the sentence and judgment.

What penalties did the charge carry?

The information sheet filed with the charge lists imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $250,000 or not more than the greater of twice the gross pecuniary gain or twice the gross pecuniary loss, or both, a $100 special assessment, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and restitution and forfeiture. It also records that the government would not seek detention.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.