Latest news with #Amiryan
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Supper's Ready:' Inside the Bloody Feud Between L.A.'s Rival Armenian Mob Factions
A violent feud between Armenian underworld factions for control over criminal enterprises in the San Fernando Valley has led to murder, kidnapping, and targeted heists, federal prosecutors said this week as they announced more than a dozen arrests that include two reputed bosses, or "avtoritet," in Los Angeles who have been engaged in a bloody battle for power. The targets rounded up Tuesday in a series of heavily-armed raids by ICE agents in Florida and Southern California are charged in five federal complaints with a series of crimes, including attempted murder, kidnapping, illegal firearm possession and thefts estimated to be in millions of dollars related to online retailer shipments. Law enforcement officials seized approximately $100,000 in cash, three armored vehicles, and 14 firearms during the action-movie style operation. Two reputed underworld bosses, or avtoritet, which loosely translates to "thief in law," prosecutors say, were arrested in the coordinated sweeps. One, Ara Artuni, 41, of Porter Ranch, California is now charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering. His arch rival, Robert Amiryan, 46, of Hollywood, California, was also captured and charged with kidnapping after a sweeping investigation codenamed "Supper's Ready" by federal officialsSince 2022, the two local leaders within the organization, also known as avtoritet, which in Russian means 'authority,' allegedly have engaged in a power struggle for control in their territory, which, federal prosecutor say, have turned the Valley into a war zone resulting in "multiple murder attempts and a kidnapping."Artuni, an avtoritet, better known in underworld circles by his moniker "Rubo Fish," is charged with ordering the attempted murder of Amiryan during the summer of 2023. In retaliation, Amiryan, also an avtoritet whose nickname is "Aro," allegedly conspired with members of his own criminal organization to kidnap and torture one of Artuni's associates in June 2023.'This transnational criminal organization operated with the structure and brutality of an international cartel, inflicting significant harm on public safety and causing substantial damage to legitimate commerce and supply chains,' said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Dwayne Angebrandt. According to affidavits filed with the criminal complaints, "Armenian Organized Crime, a Russian mafia-affiliated transnational criminal organization, has made Los Angeles County a center of U.S. operations," agents wrote. Court records indicate that Artuni's Enterprise, as prosecutors reference it, has gotten the upper hand by allegedly ripping off Amazon for $83 million in an elaborate scheme during which his crew "enrolled with Amazon as carriers, contracted for trucking routes, and then, while transporting the goods, diverged from the route and stole all or part of the shipment," prosecutors say. The Artuni Enterprise also ran a 'credit card bust-out' scheme in which they charged various credit cards to a sham business, then drained the business account before the credit card companies could collect the to-be disputed funds. Strangely, prosecutors note, Artuni is a "self-reported Iranian citizenship but suspectedly, was actually Armenian who commanded over a small army and an actual armory in the Valley."On the other side, Amirya, who was "the target in multiple shooting incidents," prosecutors say, allegedly kidnapped and tortured a soldier for Artuni and was "present at the scene," which is an indicator of "his importance in the community, and his willingness to commit violent crimes to benefit and protect his standing and the standing of the Amiryan Organized Crime Group." Los Angeles is home to the largest diaspora of Armenian immigrants in the country, making the city a natural refuge for a small criminal faction. The FBI says gaining power and leadership in Armenian Organized Crime takes a combination of respect, seniority, and a birth certificate "either in Armenia or a former Soviet country." Unlike a "gogh," which is a crime boss, or made man sanctioned by Russian Mafia figures, an avtoritet is viewed as a man of respect in the Armenian community while also operating independently from Russian overlords, according to court records. "In Los Angeles County, avtoritet commonly operated independently and led their own organized crime groups thereby wielding an incredible amount of power over Armenian criminal organizations, including Armenian Organized Crime, the Armenian criminal street gang Armenian Power, and non-member Armenians who committed crimes," federal prosecutors say. In the 234-page indictment unsealed this week - filled with details of terrifying home invasions during which victims were shot dead as they slept, inhuman acts of torture, and drive-by assassination attempts - details also emerged of the labyrinthine white collar crimes the Armenian mob is infamous for. Sometimes they even used members of the Mexican Mafia to carry out specific hits, according to the indictment and flew drones over the homes of targets in the minutes before shots rang out. In one brazen attack Burbank police followed a blood trail from a gang member covered in 13 tattoos to a bedroom where the wife of a purported Armenian mobster was wrapped in a blanket, bleeding. When an officer asked who shot her she responded, "I can't talk." A kidnapping victim who was brutally beaten was also uncooperative with police who tracked him to a North Hollywood home using his cell phone location. He insisted that his attackers were "innocent" and that "God" was in charge of his fate. He lived, but his kidnapping is now among the dozens of violent incidents listed in the indictment. After years of gathering intelligence in Operation Supper's Ready, federal authorities began the takedown on Tuesday with multiple agencies, including the Los Angeles and Burbank Police departments. 'Our commitment to public safety is strengthened through collaboration,' said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. 'By working hand-in-hand with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we are united in our mission to identify, apprehend, and bring violent criminals to justice. Together, we are sending a clear message: violence will not be tolerated in our communities.'His police chief counterpart in Burbank, Rafael Quintero, said his cops put "hundreds of hour," in the case. And this week's arrests, United States Attorney Bill Essayli, who oversees California's Central District said, should put organized crime members on notice. 'Let today's enforcement action be a warning to criminals: Our communities are not your playground to engage in violence and thuggery.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
An Armenian crime ring stole $83 million worth of Amazon cargo, DOJ says
Competing members of Armenian-American organized crime groups have been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, fraud, and more than $83 million in theft from Amazon (AMZN). Thirteen alleged members were arrested in California and Florida on Tuesday, including Ara Artuni and his archrival, Robert Amiryan, both of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. Allegations date back to at least 2021. The Department of Justice accused the Artuni Enterprise of cargo theft, by enrolling its associates as Amazon carriers who would get contracts for trucking routes — and then steal all or part of the shipment. The DOJ also alleged the organization ran a 'credit card bust-out' scheme, in which 'they charged various credit cards to a sham business then drained the business account before the credit card companies could collect the to-be disputed funds.' The Armenian mob is linked to the Russian mafia and is known as avtoritet, the Russian word for 'authority.' A power struggle between Artuni and Amiryan had led to multiple foiled hit jobs, including a kidnapping and torture. Armenian Organized Crime, a transnational syndicate, has made Los Angeles County a center of its U.S. operations. Since 2022, the two local leaders within avtoritet allegedly have engaged in a fight for control in their territory. That included an attempt on Amiryan's life in 2023 after associates of Amiryan 'conspired with members of his own criminal organization to kidnap and torture one of Artuni's associates in June 2023,' according to the the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Armenian crime rings charged with attempted murder, $83M Amazon cargo theft
Federal authorities on Tuesday arrested 13 alleged members of rival Armenian crime organizations locked in an apparent power struggle in Los Angeles County. The charges include attempted murder, kidnapping, illegal firearm possession, bank and wire fraud, and cargo theft totaling more than $80 million, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. Among the defendants are Ara Artuni, 41, of Los Angeles, who is charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and Robert Amiryan, 46, of Hollywood, who is charged with kidnapping. Authorities say both men were leaders of rival Armenian organized crime syndicates, referred to as 'avtoritet,' which is Russian for 'authority,' and that they have been engaged in a violent feud to maintain control of the San Fernando Valley since 2022. Artuni is charged with ordering the attempted murder of Amiryan during the summer of 2023. In retaliation, Amiryan allegedly conspired with members of his own criminal organization to kidnap and torture one of Artuni's associates in June 2023. In addition to attempted murder, authorities say Artuni and his criminal enterprise committed bank fraud, wire fraud and cargo theft. Artuni and his organization allegedly targeted e-commerce giant Amazon by enrolling as carriers for the online retailer. Artuni and his men would contract trucking routes with Amazon, and while transporting the goods, diverge from the route and steal all or part of the shipments. The Artuni enterprise allegedly stole more than $83 million from Amazon, according to estimates provided by the company. 'This transnational criminal organization operated with the structure and brutality of an international cartel, inflicting significant harm on public safety and causing substantial damage to legitimate commerce and supply chains,' Dwayne Angebrandts, Homeland Security Investigation's Los Angeles acting deputy special agent in charge, said in a statement. Artuni's organization also reportedly ran a 'credit card bust-out' scheme in which it charged credit cards to a fake business and then 'drained the business account' before credit card companies could collect the disputed funds. Several other arrests were made in the Los Angeles area and two more in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida. Authorities continue to look for one defendant. Federal agents seized more than $100,000 in cash, 14 firearms and three armored vehicles in the May 20 operation, which included assistance from the Los Angles and Burbank police departments. If convicted of all charges, the defendants could face maximum sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison. The post Armenian crime rings charged with attempted murder, $83M Amazon cargo theft appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arrests made in alleged L.A. Armenian crime syndicate engaged in violent feud
In a sweeping law enforcement operation, 13 people reportedly involved in a violent Armenian crime syndicate headquartered in Los Angeles County have been arrested, federal officials announced Tuesday. Two leaders of the Russian-mafia affiliated syndicate, referred to as avtoritet which is Russian for 'authority,' have been engaged in a violent feud to maintain control of the San Fernando Valley since 2022, U.S. Department of Justice officials said in a news release. The power struggle, according to federal investigators, was between Porter Ranch resident Ara Artuni, 41, and his rival, Hollywood resident Robert Amiryan, 41, both alleged members of the avtoritet. Artuni reportedly ordered the murder of Amiryan in the summer of 2023. In retaliation, Amiryan is said to have conspired with members of his organization to kidnap and torture an associate of Artuni's the same year. Along with the alleged attempted murder, Artuni's organization, Artuni Enterprise, reportedly stole more than $83 million from Amazon, officials said. 'Artuni Enterprise members and associates enrolled with Amazon as carriers, contracted for trucking routes, and then, while transporting the goods, diverged from the route and stole all or part of the shipment,' the release detailed. 3-year-old son of lifestyle influencer followed by millions dies in tragic incident The 41-year-old's organization also reportedly ran a 'credit card bust-out' scheme where they charged credit cards to a fake business and then 'drained the business account' before credit card companies could collect the to-be disputed funds. Officials did not provide details on where the two men were arrested but said that Artuni is charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering while Amiryan is charged with kidnapping. Federal agents, who continue to look for one outstanding defendant, seized more than $100,000 in cash, 14 firearms and three armored vehicles in the May 20th operation, which included assistance from the L.A. and Burbank police departments. Several other arrests were made in the greater Los Angeles area and two others Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida. 'This transnational criminal organization operated with the structure and brutality of an international cartel, inflicting significant harm on public safety and causing substantial damage to legitimate commerce and supply chains,' Homeland Security Investigations L.A. Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Dwayne Angebrandt said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
