Ara Dolarian, Unlicensed Arms Brokering, California 2024

FRESNO, Calif. — Ara Dolarian, 58, a former Fresno resident now living in Sofia, Bulgaria, was arrested Wednesday, May 15, on federal charges of illegally brokering the sale of military-grade weapons to Nigeria and laundering $8.3 million in illicit proceeds. Dolarian, owner and president of Dolarian Capital Inc. (DCI), faces counts of unlicensed arms brokering, conspiracy, and money laundering, according to U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott.

Between 2013 and 2014, the U.S. Department of State repeatedly denied DCI licenses to broker international arms deals. Despite these denials, Dolarian allegedly moved forward with a plan to transfer high-explosive bombs, rockets, military-grade firearms, and aircraft-mounted cannons from Eastern Europe and South Africa to Nigeria’s government. The deal, valued at over $8.5 million, was negotiated through Societe D’Equipments Internationaux (SEI), a French arms broker acting on Nigeria’s behalf.

In June 2014, Dolarian signed sales contracts with SEI and submitted a brokering application to the State Department. That application, and a follow-up, were never approved. Undeterred, Dolarian accepted approximately $8.3 million from Nigeria and SEI. The funds originated through a Hong Kong-based shell company posing as a furniture business, then flowed through a web of offshore accounts tied to Dolarian and associates.

Instead of fulfilling the weapons deal — which never materialized — Dolarian allegedly used the funds to pay personal debts, including federal and state tax obligations, and purchased a BMW SUV. In February 2015, federal authorities seized over $6 million still held in Dolarian’s accounts. Civil forfeiture proceedings tied to that seizure are ongoing under Case No. 1:15-cv-954-DAD.

“Illegal arms brokering represents a threat, not only to U.S. national security, but to the security of the international community,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI led the investigation into Dolarian’s activities, which violated the Arms Export Control Act and federal money laundering statutes.

Dolarian made his initial court appearance Thursday and is scheduled for a detention hearing on May 20. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for unlicensed arms brokering; up to five years and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy; and up to 20 years plus a fine of $500,000 or twice the transaction value for money laundering. The charges are allegations; Dolarian is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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