LOS ANGELES – Eight members and associates of the Armenian Power gang pleaded guilty late Monday to charges related to the activities of the Armenian Power criminal enterprise, including racketeering conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, drug-trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.
The eight who pleaded guilty yesterday are among 70 people who were charged two years ago in a 140-count indictment that outlined the criminal activities of the Armenian Power gang. The indictment accused 29 defendants, including four of those who pleaded guilty yesterday, of participation in the Armenian Power racketeering conspiracy.
The racketeering indictment alleges a host of illegal activities, including sophisticated fraud schemes involving identity theft, bank fraud, credit card skimming, counterfeit checks and money laundering. The indictment also alleged a variety of violent crimes, such as extortion, kidnapping and firearms offenses.
The racketeering indictment alleges a bank fraud and identity theft scheme that victimized hundreds of customers of 99 Cents Only Stores across Southern California. Through the scheme, defendants caused more than $2 million in losses when they secretly installed sophisticated “skimming” devices to steal customer debit card account information at cash registers, and then used the skimmed information to create counterfeit debit cards that were used to steal money from victims’ bank accounts.
The eight defendants who pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Dean D. Pregerson are:
Karo Yerkanyan, also known as “Guilty,” 32, of Tujunga, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, and felon in possession of a firearm;
Arman Tangabekyan, aka “Spito and “Thick Neck,” 34, of Encino, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft;
Artur Pembejian, aka “Cham,” 36, of Burbank, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
Raymond Tarverdyan, aka “Rye,” 35, of Montrose, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and bank fraud;
Simon Antonyan, aka “Simo,” 38, of Hollywood, who pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft;
Khachatur Arakelyan, aka “Khecho,” 39, of Glendale, who pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft;
Vartenie Ananian, 29, of Tujunga, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud; and
Adam Davoodian, 32, of Glendale, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
The racketeering indictment alleges a bank fraud and identity theft scheme that victimized hundreds of customers of 99 Cents Only Stores across Southern California. Through the scheme, defendants caused more than $2 million in losses when they secretly installed sophisticated “skimming” devices to steal customer debit card account information at cash registers, and then used the skimmed information to create counterfeit debit cards that were used to steal money from victims’ bank accounts.
The eight defendants who pleaded guilty yesterday played various roles in the activities of the Armenian Power gang, including participating in bank fraud, drug distribution, access device fraud, identity theft and illegal firearm possession.
Yerkanyan, a member of the Armenian Power conspiracy, participated in a bank fraud scheme that obtained the personal identifying information and account information of victims. He and his co-conspirators used the information to open fraudulent bank accounts, loans and lines of credit at HSBC Bank and Bank of America without the knowledge of the victims.
Tangabekyan, another member of the Armenian Power conspiracy, participated in a bank fraud scheme by obtaining personal information and account information for victims and then obtaining or transferring over $475,000 in funds.
Pembejian, a member of the Armenian Power conspiracy, abetted the illegal possession of a firearm by a leader of the Armenian Power gang, Mher Darbinyan.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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