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FBI agents raided a Hollywood mansion early Thursday, arresting a suspect in pajamas in a raid tied to an alleged $17.4 million mortgage fraud scheme focusing on aged householders.
Prosecutors said the scheme resulted in about $6 million in precise losses, with 11 suspects — together with an Iranian and Azerbaijani nationwide — accused of stealing victims’ identities, taking out mortgages on their properties and pocketing the money.
Through the raid, a part of Operation Onerous Cash, brokers surrounded the house and took the suspect into custody after he walked out together with his arms up earlier than being handcuffed, FOX 11 reported. A number of luxurious automobiles had been parked exterior, and the property appeared just lately transformed, the outlet reported.
FBI RAIDS HOME AND OFFICES OF MAJOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
FBI brokers take a suspect into custody exterior a Hollywood mansion throughout a raid linked to an alleged $17.4 million mortgage fraud scheme focusing on aged householders. (FBI Los Angeles)
“There isn’t a scarcity of large fraud occurring inside California,” Invoice Essayli, first assistant United States lawyer, stated in an announcement. “Right now’s operation represents considered one of many refined schemes utilized by criminals — together with foreign nationals — to defraud U.S. residents and taxpayers of their hard-earned property. These days are over below this U.S. Division of Justice. These defendants can be dealing with vital jail time for his or her charged conduct.”
“Huge alleged fraud takedown in California from @FBILosAngeles — effectively finished,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X in response to the raid.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the operation. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
All defendants besides one are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a number of counts of wire fraud, whereas a number of additionally face aggravated identification theft and cash laundering expenses, prosecutors from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Central District of California stated.
Authorities allege the group focused aged householders between 2021 and 2023, stealing private data and utilizing it to create faux IDs and electronic mail accounts to impersonate victims. They then utilized for high-value “hard money” loans backed by the victims’ properties, submitting falsified paperwork together with financial institution statements, rental agreements and medical information.
I’VE WORKED THOUSANDS OF MONEY LAUNDERING CASES — FRAUD IS A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT
After a four-year probe, the FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Job Drive arrested 11 suspects in “Operation Onerous Cash,” accusing them of stealing aged victims’ identities to fraudulently safe loans towards their properties. (@FBILosAngeles / X)
The suspects allegedly used faux identities and shell accounts to funnel the proceeds, which had been wired to accounts below their management.
Authorities stated the scheme concerned properties throughout Los Angeles — together with Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Westwood and Chinatown.
The defendants are Nazaret Chakrian, 65; Arnold Moradians, 57; Avetis Hekimyan, 38; Ross Tarkhan, 32; Tigran Hovanesian, 56; Armen Vardevaryan, 55; Craig Higdon, 66; Helen Spangler, 62; Victor Lossi, 43; Marine Sarkisian, 49; and Cynthia Borjas, 51.
FBI brokers take a suspect into custody exterior a Hollywood mansion throughout a raid linked to an alleged $17.4 million mortgage fraud scheme focusing on aged householders. (FOX 11/KTTV)
Two of the suspects are overseas nationals — Moradians, an Iranian nationwide who has an excellent warrant for removing from america, and Sarkisian, an Azerbaijani nationwide and inexperienced card holder, prosecutors stated.
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If convicted, the defendants resist 20 years in federal prison for every fraud and cash laundering depend, together with a compulsory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identification theft.
The case is being investigated by the FBI-led Eurasian Organized Crime Job Drive alongside IRS Prison Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and native regulation enforcement businesses.
