Eleven Individuals Charged in Southern California Loan Fraud Scheme Involving $6 Million in Identity Theft

Eleven Arrested in Identity Theft Scheme Targeting Seniors in Southern California

Federal authorities announced the arrest of eleven individuals involved in a scheme to steal the identities of elderly residents to secure loans fraudulently in Southern California. The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed the details of the operation on Thursday.

The suspects allegedly obtained personal information from their victims to access title reports for their homes. Using these properties as collateral, they sought to obtain loans that were either successfully acquired or attempted, according to federal investigators.

Additionally, the defendants are accused of creating fictitious financial documents, including bank statements, rental agreements, doctor’s notes, and death certificates, which they also managed to have fraudulently notarized.

“Our agents traced every wire, every transfer, and every shell account to expose the financial backbone of this conspiracy," said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office.

The properties of the victims are located in notable areas such as Santa Monica, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Westwood, and Chinatown. The DOJ estimates that the suspects siphoned off approximately $6 million from their victims while attempting to steal a total of $17.4 million.

The arrests occurred Thursday morning, with the suspects scheduled for arraignment in federal court. Those arrested include:

• Nazaret Chakrian, 65, also known as "Niko," from Hollywood.
• Arnold Moradians, 57, known as "Julian," from Hollywood. He is identified as an Iranian national with an outstanding removal warrant from the U.S.
• Avetis Hekimyan, 38, known as "Chef Avo," from North Hollywood.
• Ross Tarkhan, 32, from Glendale.
• Tigran Hovanesian, 56, from Glendale.
• Armen Vardevaryan, 55, known as "Gonch," from North Hollywood.
• Craig Higdon, 66, from Naples, Florida.
• Helen Spangler, 62, from Oakdale, California.
• Victor Lossi, 43, from Thousand Oaks.
• Marine Sarkisian, 49, from Hollywood.
• Cynthia Borjas, 51, from Koreatown.

The group is facing charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering. If convicted, each defendant could face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count related to fraud and money laundering, along with a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft, as stated by the DOJ.