A judge Tuesday sentenced an unrepentant Simi Valley man to seven years in prison — the maximum sentence — after he was found guilty of five counts of filing and recording false documents and two counts of forgery.

A defiant Abulghasen Ahmadpour told the judge that he was innocent, criticized the jurors and victims and wanted the prosecutor, Miles Weiss, investigated.

"I have been abused by Ventura County," Ahmadpour told the judge.

Earlier in the sentencing, Ventura County Superior Court Judge James Cloninger asked Ahmadpour's lawyer, Terree Bowers, of Los Angeles, to clarify his client's views about the crimes he committed.

"Mr. Ahmadpour still insists that he is innocent of these crimes and this is a misunderstanding," Bowers said.

Cloninger said Ahmadpour, 58, hasn't "come clean" to his family and friends, who were in the courtroom, about his crimes. The judge said he is satisfied that the truth came out in the trial and called Ahmadpour's crimes calculated, aggravated and sophisticated.

The judge said he was "very bothered" that Ahmadpour and his wife presented false testimony in the trial.

Cloninger said the court must deal "forcefully" with people who subvert the justice system and "trick and deceive" government officials.

Two of Ahmadpour's victims, Hamid Moayer and M.R. Ershadi, both of Los Angeles, were in the courtroom.

"I am sorry for his family and kids and what they went through," Moayer said.

Ershadi said he is glad that a "virus" was taken out of circulation "so he won't infect others and victimize others."

Bowers had asked the judge for leniency because his client is in ill health with a heart condition, his wife has cancer and his two children were about to enter universities. Bowers said his client has a successful business with five employees that would shut down if Ahmadpour went to prison.

He noted that Ahmadpour had no criminal record

Bowers unsuccessfully requested a motion for a new trial and that his client be put on probation.

Prosecutors say Ahmadpour was facing foreclosure on his Simi Valley residence after he defaulted on one of the loans used to finance the home.

To clear the title so he could refinance the house, Ahmadpour allegedly recorded with the county Recorder's Office on Oct. 31, 2005, a false reconveyance of trust deed, which contained the forged signatures of two people.

One of the victims was awarded a judgment over a business dispute in Los Angeles County against Ahmadpour for $151,220. To clear the title to the house, Ahmadpour recorded false documents with the Recorder's Office on Nov. 3, 2005, and March 6, 2006, each containing forged signatures, according to prosecutors.

In another business dispute, a third victim was awarded $113,900 against Ahmadpour at the conclusion of a civil trial. Another lien was filed against Ahmadpour's residence. Prosecutors said Ahmadpour recorded two false and forged satisfaction of judgment documents on Feb. 28, 2006, and March 14, 2006.

Cloninger set a hearing to determine how much restitution Ahmadpour should pay his victims.