Feds play video, accuse Ed Ahmad of living large, lying on tax returns

In this FBI video, Sampson is seen looking
at the incriminating check register
showing checks Ahmad gave him.

New York (New York Daily News) -The government’s star witness against State Senator John Sampson came under heavy fire Thursday for driving a Lamborghini and living large while claiming on tax returns that he earned as little as US$23,000 annually.
Edul Ahmad, who cut a deal with prosecutors after pleading guilty to mortgage fraud and secretly taped the Brooklyn Democrat discussing how they could impede a federal investigation, testified that he drove an expensive sports car, sent his children to private school, took vacations, and went to fancy restaurants.
“I was living an extravagant lifestyle when business was good,” said Ahmad, a former real estate broker.
On cross-examination by defense lawyer, Nick Akerman, the shady businessman was confronted with his 2003-2010 federal tax returns, which listed six dependents and income ranging from $23,000 to $55,000.
Akerman reminded him that in 2011 he told a judge that he had earned $150,000 for the “last two years.”
“Did you lie on your returns or to the judge?” Akerman asked.
“I didn’t lie to either person,” Ahmad shot back.
Ahmad blamed his accountant for the doing the math on the returns, and relied on his judgment.
Prosecutors played for the jury on Thursday the video version of a February 22, 2012 sit down between Sampson and Ahmad in which the embattled politician advised him to get rid of evidence of an $188,500 loan from Ahmad.
Sampson is seen placing the page from the check register in his coat pocket.