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Fourteen people have been arrested on suspicion of engaging in a long-standing scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $25 million in Covid-19 relief funds and government-supported small business loans.
During the arrest Wednesday, law enforcement seized about $20,000 in cash, two money count machines, a paper cash band, multiple mobile phones, laptops, two loaded semi-automatic 9mm handguns and ammunition boxes, authorities said.
“This cross-border criminal network has been nearly successful in attempting to fraudulent millions of dollars on the government,” Los Angeles, a Homeland Security Investigation, said in a statement.
The agency continues to identify these criminal groups seeking to benefit from the pandemic and will use all available resources to file criminal prosecution or remove them from the state,” he added.
A total of 18 people have been charged with felony in connection with suspicious plans, including conspiracy to fraud the government over the claims. Make false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. Attempts of wire fraud and wire fraud; bank fraud and bank fraud attempts. Engage in financial transactions on property derived from money laundering conspiracies, laundry of currency equipment, and designated illegal activities, and construct financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements, federal prosecutors said.
Four of the 18 people charged have not yet been arrested and are believed to be in Armenia, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors argued against Vahe Margaryan, 42, of Tujunga, to coordinate a scheme that fraudulent banks and small business preferred lenders programs by instructing fake banks and small business owners to open bank accounts and to create phony documents that support loan applications for purchasing other fake businesses.
The scheme is said to have started before the pandemic in 2018 and continued until January.
In a possible cause statement filed in federal court, investigators wrote that the defendant washed money through multiple bank accounts and ultimately used cash for personal expenses.
In one instance, the prosecutor claims that Margaryan, who also went to the name William McGrayan, has started a business called Music E Solutions to sell guitar lessons online to people identified solely as FN. In May 2019, Margaryan named the company Mobile Auto Repair, Inc. suggested changing to, directed FN to open a bank account for the business, and directed FN as the sole signer.
FN told investigators that he thought this was suspicious and questioned whether it was legal. Margarian “has been required to assist in eligibility for the loan and has assured him that it is legal,” the investigator wrote in a statement of probable causes. FN told authorities it had no intention of running the auto repair business.
Authorities say Margaryan has directed FN to deposit a check in his company account, move it to another account to find a bank loan, and seek payroll protection loans and economic injury disaster loans during the pandemic.
FN described Margaryan’s actions as “terrifying” and “indifference,” federal agents wrote in a probable cause statement.
“FN is becoming more and more frightened [Margaryan] As [Margaryan’s] Tone became more belligerent when FN questioned [Margaryan] As to whether what they were doing was legal,” the agent wrote.
The plan also includes Sarkis Sarkian, Axel Markalian, Ashot Bejanyan, Jack Aidinian, Taron Musaiyan, Hovanes Hovanisian, Mary Babayan, Anahit Sahakiyan, Felix Parker, Rudik Yengivarian, Johan Vachiyan, Johan Vachiyan, Johan Vachiyan, Johan Zahakhan, and
The other four defendants, considered overseas, have not been made public.
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