Federal Court Sentences Murdered Journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s Lawyer To 1 Year In Federal Prison For Tax Crimes

A federal judge in Detroit has sentenced murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s lawyer to one year in federal prison. The court found Asim Ghafoor guilty for filing fraudulent tax returns. Ghafoor also omitted more than $1.8 million in income from a Syrian charity in Metro Detroit.

Court records describe a pattern of wrongdoing and a years-long tax scheme orchestrated by a globe-trotting attorney. Ghafoor has client list of high-profile clientele including foreign governments.

Justice Department Trial Attorney Richard Kelley wrote in a sentencing memorandum:

“(Ghafoor) was earning a comfortable living and did not need money. The only explanation for his conduct is greed.”

The federal court sentenced Ghafoor five months after he pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. Filing a false tax return is a felony that carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors wanted him to spend one year in prison for willfully failing to report income from his law firm. In all, the failure caused a tax loss of more than $354,000 from 2012 to 2016.

His lawyers tried to keep Ghafoor out of prison by arguing he cooperated with the government and pleaded guilty.

Ghafoor has represented the government of Sudan and the terrorist organization Al Haramain Islamic Foundation. However, the complaint stems from his representation of the Syrian Sunrise Foundation. Syrian Sunrise Foundation is a Michigan charity focused on aiding refugees.

Jamal Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist who was killed and dismembered at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018. U.S. intelligence agencies said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman likely directed the killing. However, the prince has denied his involvement.