Mehdi and Saeideh Moslem escaped the dangers of Iran as a young couple decades ago and immigrated to Central Valley as a safe place to start their family, but Saeideh says that belief has been shattered by a $1 million federal IRS fraud case against her husband and son, Saaed, that sentenced them to prison in October.

“We chose to be in the country because I believe in the system of democracy,” said Saeideh Moslem. “My assumption coming to this country is you were innocent until proven guilty. From day one they called us criminal."

Saeideh’s daughter, Semira Moslem, lives in California and joined by Zoom while News 12 talked to her mom from their family’s Orange County home, which is now up for rent. 

“They were characterized as Bernie Madoffs when they were an immigrant family, a small business, that made mistakes and didn’t know better and were taken advantage of by the government,” said Semira. 

The father-and-son-owned and operated Exclusive Motor Sports in Central Valley and allege the person doing their accounting was an FBI suspect-turned-informant who set the men up to help himself. 

“They were misled and then trapped by a crooked CPA,” said Semira. “Because of the time and resources put into this case, they had to see them pay for it.” 

The federal indictment shows the men were first accused of covering up “millions of dollars” but by the time the father and son were convicted, the Department of Justice said it was much less. 

The family say none of the figures are correct and that a forensic review of their records found roughly $10,000 in taxes are owed. 

In the meantime, Saaed was sentenced to eight years in prison and his 73-year-old dad was sentenced to three years behind bars. 

When they get out, they’ll owe the government $3 million in restitution and fines. 

“With all the injustices going on in the world, we need to point out these flaws and injustices because this is not a democracy,” said Semira. 

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the case. 

The family says they’ve filed an appeal.