13 accused Armenian syndicate members, accused of stealing $80 million-plus, arrested in greater LA, Florida
13 accused Armenian syndicate members, accused of stealing $80 million-plus, arrested in greater LA, Florida
In a series of coordinated raids in greater Los Angeles and Florida, 13 purported members and associates of Armenian crime syndicates were arrested on Tuesday, May 20, on federal charges including murder and kidnapping in connection with efforts to expand their criminal enterprises in the San Fernando Valley.
The defendants were charged in five federal criminal complaints, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. One defendant remains at large. Prosecutors said the raids also led to the seizure of about $100,000, three armored vehicles, and 14 firearms.
“This transnational criminal organization operated with the structure and brutality of an international cartel, inflicting significant harm on public safety and causing substantial damage to legitimate commerce and supply chains,” Dwayne Angebrandt, a Homeland Security Investigations acting deputy special agent in charge, said in a statement.
Among the defendants charged were a 41-year-old of Porter Ranch, who was charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and a 46-year-old of Hollywood, who was charged with kidnapping, according ot the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to prosecutors, the operations targeted Armenian Organized Crime, a Russian mafia-affiliated criminal organization that uses the Los Angeles area as its base of U.S. operations. Two of the organization’s local leaders have been engaged in a violent power struggle for territorial control, leading to multiple attempted murders and a kidnapping.
Collectively, they are accused of crimes including bank fraud, wire fraud, cargo theft, targeting online retailers such as Amazon — with, officials said, associates becoming shipping contractors for the company and stealing shipments totaling more than $83 million.
Prosecutors said if convicted as charged the defendants face prison sentences from 10 years to life.
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