An L.A. Businessman Who Peddled Political Influence Gets 12 Years in Prison Imaad Zuberi sold access to powerful people for millions in foreign cash An internationally connected L.A. businessman and political donor who made fast friends by padding campaign coffers on both sides of the aisle was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $18 million in fines and restitution Thursday, after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and failing to register as a foreign agent. Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips to throw the book at Imaad Zuberi, 50, for what they described as an unprecedented scheme to funnel donations to both Democrats and Republicans in order to gain influence, which he then peddled in lobbying pols on behalf of countries like Turkey and Sri Lanka, as well as for a shadowy Ukrainian oligarch tied to Vladimir Putin,