LOS ANGELES, CA – Hovik Dagesian, 42, of Burbank, is headed to federal prison for a decade after admitting to peddling illegal firearms – including untraceable “ghost guns” – and methamphetamine from his downtown Los Angeles hookah lounge. U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi handed down the 120-month sentence today, bringing a close to a case that exposed a brazen disregard for federal law.
Dagesian pleaded guilty in September 2023 to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The investigation revealed a scheme operating from October 2020 to January 2021, where Dagesian illegally sold 11 firearms, several of which were “ghost guns” – privately assembled weapons lacking serial numbers, making them virtually untraceable.
Among the firearms Dagesian pushed were a 12-gauge shotgun, a serial-number-stripped AR-15-type rifle, and a 9mm handgun. But guns weren’t the only thing on the menu. Dagesian also admitted to selling methamphetamine to a buyer on October 30, 2020, turning his business into a one-stop shop for illegal goods. The total haul from his criminal enterprise reached $34,250.
Law enforcement finally raided Dagesian’s hookah business in January 2021, uncovering a stash that included 163.3 grams (5.8 ounces) of methamphetamine, a digital scale, approximately 215 rounds of ammunition, and additional firearms he was actively trying to sell, including a dangerous sawed-off shotgun. The scale and ammunition clearly indicated intent to continue the operation.
Crucially, Dagesian never held a license to legally deal, manufacture, or import firearms. He operated entirely outside the law, flouting regulations designed to keep dangerous weapons off the streets. This wasn’t a case of a few accidental sales; it was a deliberate, ongoing criminal operation.
The case was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Los Angeles Police Department. Prosecutors from the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section handled the prosecution, sending a clear message that such blatant violations will not be tolerated. Dagesian’s sentence serves as a stark warning to those who seek to profit from the illegal gun and drug trade in Southern California.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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