Armenian Power Associate Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison

An associate of the Armenian Power gang, Andranik Aloyan, 41, of Hollywood, was sentenced to 160 months in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy that included stealing personal and financial information of elderly bank customers for accounts valued at more than $25 million.

Aloyan was convicted at trial of racketeering conspiracy, attempted bank fraud, access device fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The conviction was handed down by a federal jury in February, and in addition to the prison term, Judge Philip S. Gutierrez ordered Aloyan to pay $3,516,711 in restitution.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Aloyan possessed and used stolen personal and financial information belonging to more than 80, mostly elderly bank customers, whose accounts combined to be worth more than $25 million.

Aloyan was among 90 individuals charged three years ago in two indictments that alleged a variety of criminal activities associated with the Armenian Power gang. One indictment accused 27 defendants, including Aloyan, of participating in the Armenian Power racketeering conspiracy that involved illegal activities such as sophisticated bank fraud, identity theft, debit-card skimming, manufacturing counterfeit checks, and money laundering.

Some of the defendants also were involved in violent crimes, such as kidnapping, extortion, and firearms offenses, along with other crimes including drug trafficking and illegal gambling. Eighty-five defendants have previously been convicted or pleaded guilty to the charges, including 26 defendants who were convicted of or pleaded guilty to racketeering charges.

The Armenian Power street gang formed in the East Hollywood district of Los Angeles in the 1980s. The gang’s membership consisted primarily of individuals of Armenian descent, as well as of other countries within the former Soviet bloc. Armenian Power has been designated under California state law as a criminal street gang and is believed to have more than 250 documented members, as well as hundreds of associates.

Armenian Power members and associates regularly carry out violent criminal acts, including murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, robberies, extortions, and witness intimidation to enrich its members and associates and preserve and enhance the power of the criminal enterprise.

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