LOS ANGELES – Turhan Lemont Armstrong, 49, of Northridge, is facing a potential lifetime behind bars after a jury convicted him Friday of orchestrating a brazen scheme that bilked financial institutions out of over $3 million. The verdict follows a two-week trial detailing a sophisticated network of fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
Armstrong was found guilty on all 51 counts of a grand jury indictment, a laundry list of federal offenses including conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, financial institution fraud, making false statements to financial institutions, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to commit access device (credit card) fraud, access device fraud, interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme, investigators revealed, relied heavily on exploiting vulnerable victims – specifically, the Social Security numbers of children, who were less likely to detect fraudulent activity.
The evidence laid bare in court showed Armstrong used stolen identities to open fraudulent bank accounts, establish shell companies, and secure loans for homes and vehicles. He didn’t just stop at loans. Armstrong and his co-defendants exploited “collusive merchants” with point-of-sale terminals, effectively turning them into ATMs for illicit cash withdrawals. In some instances, loans were secured for cars that were immediately shipped out of the country, leaving lenders holding the bag.
Armstrong’s lavish lifestyle, seemingly funded by stolen money, was also highlighted during the trial. Prosecutors presented evidence that he reported zero income to the IRS between 2009 and 2017, yet maintained residences in Georgia, Florida, and the affluent Sherwood Forest neighborhood of Northridge. When authorities attempted to arrest him in Atlanta in late 2017, Armstrong fled, only to be apprehended three days later in Fort Lauderdale. Searches of his multiple homes and two Los Angeles-area storage units turned up a treasure trove of false identification documents, hundreds of credit cards in stolen names, and lists of compromised Social Security numbers.
Two of Armstrong’s co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty, likely hoping for leniency in exchange for testimony. Armstrong, however, took the case to trial and lost. He is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner on August 5. The sheer number of convictions carries a potential statutory maximum sentence exceeding 1,000 years in federal prison – a grim prospect for the Northridge fraudster.
The investigation was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with substantial assistance from the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Police Department, and the North Miami Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab and Allison L. Westfahl Kong are prosecuting the case, aiming to deliver justice for the victims whose identities were stolen and lives disrupted by Armstrong’s relentless greed.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime