⏱ 2 min read
Los Angeles, CA – A crew of eleven, including two foreign nationals, are facing federal charges today for a brazen scheme that bilked private lenders out of millions. The gang allegedly stole the identities of elderly people, then used that stolen info to get property records. They then pitched bogus hard money loans, falsely claiming the elderly victims’ homes backed the deals.
Federal agents moved in this morning, arresting suspects across Southern California and as far away as Florida. Those cuffed include Nazaret Chakrian, 65 (aka “Niko”), Arnold Moradians, 57 (an Iranian national with an existing deportation order), and Avetis Hekimyan, 38 (known as “Chef Avo”). Others arrested were Ross Tarkhan, 32, Tigran Hovanesian, 56, Armen Vardevaryan, 55 (aka “Gonch”), Craig Higdon, 66 (in Florida), Helen Spangler, 62 (in Eastern California), Victor Lossi, 43, and Marine Sarkisian, 49 (an Azerbaijani green card holder).
Cynthia Borjas, 51, was also arrested today and is slated to appear in court tomorrow.
The indictment details a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of actual wire fraud. Eight of the defendants – Chakrian, Moradians, Borjas, Hekimyan, Tarkhan, Spangler, Lossi, and Sarkisian – also face aggravated identity theft charges. Four – Chakrian, Moradians, Tarkhan, and Hovanesian – are accused of money laundering, with Tarkhan facing five separate money laundering counts. The feds haven’t detailed the total amount of the alleged fraud, but sources say it runs into the millions.
RELATED: Milwaukee Mom Bilked Medicaid of $2.3M
Related Federal Cases
- Timothy New, Natalie Middleton Sentenced in $33M Synthetic Drug Ring · Illinois
- Silk Road Trio Nabbed: $1.9M Drug Ring Busted · Florida
- Timothy Ortiz Sentenced in $33M Synthetic Drug Ring · Illinois
- Gerard Ibarra Sentenced in ID Trafficking Ring · Florida
- Lutz Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession, ID Theft · Florida
Key Facts
- State: CA
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News