13 alleged Armenian crime syndicate members arrested in collection of raids – NBC Los Angeles
In a collection of coordinated raids within the Los Angeles space and Florida, 13 purported members and associates of Armenian crime syndicates have been arrested Tuesday on federal fees, together with homicide and kidnapping in reference to efforts to develop their legal enterprises within the San Fernando Valley.
The defendants have been charged in 5 federal legal complaints, in accordance with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace. One defendant stays at giant. Prosecutors mentioned the raids carried out Tuesday morning additionally led to the seizure of about $100,000 in money, three armored autos, and 14 firearms.
“This transnational legal group operated with the construction and brutality of a global cartel, inflicting vital hurt on public security and inflicting substantial harm to respectable commerce and provide chains,” Homeland Safety Investigations Los Angeles Performing Deputy Particular Agent in Cost Dwayne Angebrandt mentioned in an announcement. “Dismantling transnational legal organizations is on the core of HSI’s mission, and thru shut collaboration with our legislation enforcement companions, we’re holding these perpetrators accountable and disrupting their legal enterprise at each stage.”
Among the many defendants charged have been Ara Artuni, 41, of Porter Ranch, who was charged with tried homicide in assist of racketeering, and Robert Amiryan, 46, of Hollywood, who was charged with kidnapping, in accordance with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace.
Based on prosecutors, the operations focused Armenian Organized Crime, a Russian mafia-affiliated legal group that makes use of the Los Angeles space as its base of U.S. operations. Prosecutors mentioned two of the group’s native leaders — Artuni and Amiryan — have been engaged in a violent energy wrestle for territorial management, resulting in a number of tried murders and a kidnapping.
Artuni allegedly ordered the tried homicide of Amiryan in summer time 2023, whereas Amiryan allegedly conspired with associates to kidnap and torture one in all Artuni’s associates in June 2023.
Artuni and members of his enterprise additionally allegedly engaged in crimes equivalent to financial institution fraud, wire fraud and “cargo theft,” focusing on on-line retailers equivalent to Amazon — with Artuni associates changing into transport contractors for the corporate and stealing shipments of deliveries totaling greater than $83 million.
Prosecutors mentioned the defendants face jail sentences starting from 10 years to life in jail.
