FBI agents swarmed the North Hollywood mansion of an accused fraudster who allegedly worked with an identity-theft syndicate led by an illegal Iranian migrant to steal $17 million from wealthy Los Angeles homeowners.
The Post had a front-row seat to the action early Thursday morning, as agents moved in to arrest accused scammer, Armen Vardevaryan, by blasting his stately white home with blinding spotlights.
“You are under arrest,” an officer called out with a bullhorn. “Come out with your hands up!”
FBI agents arrested alleged fraudster Amen Vardevaryan early Thursday morning. Carlin Stiehl for California PostInvestigators say Vardevaryan, 55, and 11 other alleged crooks — including an Iranian national wanted for deportation — stole $17 million from elderly LA property owners by taking their identities and applying for loans, using the properties as collateral.
Ringleaders Arnold Moradians, 57, and Nazaret Chakrian, 65, stole the identities of rich elderly victims who owned properties in Santa Monica, Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills and beyond before turning the information over to their associates, including Vardevaryan, prosecutors said.
Moradians, a.k.a “Julian,” is an Iranian national who has an outstanding warrant for removal from the US, according to prosecutors.
Federal agents on Thursday morning collared 11 members of the crime ring in a series of daring raids across LA County.
Vardevaryan, a.k.a. “Gonch,” emerged from his home barefoot in pajamas and surrendered himself to FBI agents wearing flack vests and clutching assault rifles. He’s charged with eight counts of fraud.
His home was surrounded by luxury cars and contained a number of firearms, FBI agents said.
Other suspects were arrested in eight other raids without incident.
Eleven people were charged in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday morning.
Investigators say Vardevaryan was among a dozen alleged scammers that stole up to $17 million from elderly homeowners. Carlin Stiehl for California PostThe accused scammers face federal charges for fraud, money laundering and identity theft. Those arrested were being processed by officers at the Glendale Police Department Thursday morning.
Federal prosecutors say the alleged scammers stole the identities of elderly victims, used the information to obtain title reports for their homes and then solicited $17 million in hard money loans from private lenders secured by the victims’ properties.
The alleged crimes began in 2021 and continued at least through 2023.
“There is no shortage of massive fraud occurring within California,” said First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli, LA’s top federal prosecutor. “Today’s operation represents one of many sophisticated schemes used by criminals.”
Essayli said some of the suspects arrested Thursday had previously committed acts of fraud.
“When people think of gangs traditionally, they think of violent gangs like street gangs,” he said. “But you can also be a fraud gang and they definitely would fall into that category.”
The con men targeted wealthy elderly victims, prosecutors said, amassing millions in stolen money.
Carlin Stiehl for California PostThe crime ring secured millions in loans against the properties by using fake bank statements, rental agreements and death certificates, according to prosecutors. The money was then wired to bank accounts controlled by Chakrian, a.k.a. “Niko,” and others.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count of fraud and money laundering.
The suspects were expected to be arraigned on Thursday in US District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis said federal agents had been investigating the organized crime ring for months.
“It’s a complex fraud scheme in which people are using private citizen’s homes to steal money, “ he said.
Nine members of the crime ring were arrested in Thursday’s raids across LA County. Carlin Stiehl for California Post“It usually starts with stealing the identity of the homeowner, and then they work through various schemes to leverage loans against the house.”
In this way, the alleged fraudsters were able to steal millions through bogus loans against the homes.
“They live a very elaborate lifestyle based on the ill-gotten gains form this type of fraud,” Davis said.
Carlin Stiehl for California PostDavis said such homeowner identity thefts are on the rise, and that federal law enforcement will continue to investigate the ring taken down Thursday along with other organized crime groups committing similar scams.
“It’s a priority for us,” Davis said. “We’re trying to recover those funds and get them back to taxpayers.”
The following suspects were arrested Thursday morning:
- Nazaret Chakrian, 65, a.k.a. “Niko,” of Hollywood
- Arnold Moradians, 57, a.k.a. “Julian,” of Hollywood, an Iranian national who has an outstanding warrant for removal from the United States
- Avetis Hekimyan, 38, a.k.a. “Chef Avo,” of North Hollywood
- Ross Tarkhan, 32, of Glendale
- Tigran Hovanesian, 56, of Glendale
- Armen Vardevaryan, 55, a.k.a. “Gonch,” of North Hollywood
- Craig Higdon, 66, of Naples, Florida
- Helen Spangler, 62, of Oakdale
- Victor Lossi, 43, of Thousand Oaks
- Cynthia Borjas, 51, of Koreatown
- Marine Sarkisian, 49, of Hollywood, an Azerbaijani national and green card holder.
FBIDownload The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
