Obagi, Jr., U.S. Attorney reach agreement to defer prosecution
by Garth Meyer Redondo Beach City Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., has reached a deferred prosecution agreement with a California U.S. Attorney’s office following a felony criminal probe into his actions with a former client, which previously led to a two-year ban from practicing law. The Feb. 6 U.S. Attorney’s Office of Central California agreement stipulates that it file allegations of felony wire fraud and deprivation of honest services. At the end of the deal’s three-year term, if Obagi complies with its rules, the charges are dismissed and the matter concluded. If not, the criminal charges may be pursued. The State Bar of California last May found Obagi, Jr., culpable of two acts of “moral turpitude” for failing to pay $515,000 to a former client after the settlement of a lawsuit. “As part of my civic duty, I chose to enter into this agreement, which is not an admission of guilt, but a sincere effort to bring to a close a matter that I have been dealing with for more than two years,” Obagi said this week to Easy Reader. “This resolution will allow me to keep my focus on the needs of my growing family and the Redondo Beach community I serve.” The deferred prosecution is meant to…
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