Vasken Kenneth Gourdikian, Firearms Trafficking, California 2024

LOS ANGELES – A former Pasadena police lieutenant has agreed to plead guilty to two federal felony offenses related to the illegal sale of more than 100 firearms over the course of three years.

Vasken Kenneth Gourdikian, 48, who resigned from the Pasadena Police Department in March after a 22-year career, has signed a plea agreement that was filed this morning in United States District Court.

Gourdikian agreed to plead guilty to engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

From March 2014 through February 2017, Gourdikian sold at least 108 firearms without a license. He used his official status as a police officer to purchase firearms that were not available to the general public, and then sold restricted firearms, known as “off roster” firearms, through third-party transfers to members of the public.

“Many of the firearms that defendant sold were ‘off roster’ firearms, that is, firearms that defendant’s non-law enforcement customers could not have purchased directly from a licensed firearms dealer,” according to the plea agreement.

The false statement offense relates to an ATF “re-certification” form Gourdikian signed in 2014 when he took possession of a handgun. He admitted in the plea agreement that he “misrepresented that he was the actual buyer of a firearm when, in fact, and as defendant then well knew, he was purchasing the firearm for another individual.”

“Mr. Gourdikian used his position as a law enforcement officer to purchase firearms generally not available to the public so he could turn around and illegally sell them for profit,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “His actions clearly violated federal law and introduced unauthorized firearms into the community. By his participating in these illegal acts, Gourdikian compromised public safety and violated the public’s trust.”

Gourdikian is set to appear before United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson on September 20 to formally enter guilty pleas to the two felony offenses. In the plea agreement, the government has agreed to recommend a prison sentence of 30 months, but this recommendation will not be binding on Judge Wilson.

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