Rita Aramyan, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Missouri 2013

ST. LOUIS - A Las Vegas woman has pleaded guilty to her role in a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation that distributed over 3,000 kilograms of the substance across the United States.

Rita Aramyan, 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, appeared in United States District Court before Judge Ronnie L. White and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

According to court documents, Aramyan was part of a drug trafficking organization that conspired to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of marijuana from sources of supply based in California and launder the proceeds. The organization distributed more than 3,000 kilograms of marijuana to various cities across the United States, including St. Louis, and laundered more than $1.5 million in drug proceeds.

The organization's marijuana trafficking operation was a sophisticated one, with Aramyan serving as a key player. She couriered between 700 and 1,000 kilograms of bulk marijuana from Las Vegas to various cities, including St. Louis, Missouri. The marijuana was smuggled in luggage carried on to commercial flights.

In addition to her role in distributing marijuana, Aramyan also played a key part in laundering the proceeds. She collected proceeds from various cities, including St. Louis, and delivered them back to the organization in Las Vegas. The cash was smuggled inside luggage carried on to commercial airlines.

During a search warrant at her residence in March 2018, investigators located two money counters and $140,000 in cash. Aramyan also utilized “Vanilla Visa” credit cards purchased with marijuana proceeds to buy flights for other couriers to deliver marijuana and proceeds.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Casey is handling the case.

Aramyan's guilty plea is a significant blow to the marijuana trafficking organization, which was a large and complex one. The organization laundered marijuana proceeds through purchases of real estate, luxury vehicles, and a business among other means. Aramyan acted as a “straw” purchaser for two residential properties in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The case against Aramyan serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by marijuana trafficking organizations to communities across the United States. As the use and distribution of marijuana continue to evolve, law enforcement agencies must remain vigilant in their efforts to disrupt and dismantle these organizations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/las-vegas-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-distribute-marijuana-st-louis