Federal agents carried out several raids across Los Angeles on Tuesday, arresting multiple alleged members of an organized Armenian crime ring with Russian mafia ties.
Law enforcement agents in California and Florida conducted raids, arresting 13 accused members and associates of an Armenian organized crime gang.
What we know: According to a press release from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli’s office, those arrested are facing five federal complaints for “a series of crimes – including attempted murder, kidnapping, tens of millions of dollars’ worth of thefts of online retailer shipments, and illegal firearm possession – to expand and maintain their control in the San Fernando Valley.”
“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 HSI Los Angeles Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Dwayne Angebrandt. “Dismantling transnational criminal organizations is at the core of HSI’s mission, and through close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are holding these perpetrators accountable and disrupting their criminal enterprise at every level.”
FOX 11 uncovered charging documents that depict an ongoing power battle between crime groups that has been taking place throughout Los Angeles County since 2022. Members allegedly fought for “control of their territory, resulting in multiple murder attempts and a kidnapping.”
“For a large extent, Armenian organized crime groups tend to be the quieter ones,” said Hal Kempfer, a former Marine intelligence officer. “You don’t hear a lot about them. One of the reasons is they’re very sophisticated. They tend to focus on crimes that get less attention. The Russians on the other hand are notoriously violent.”
The Armenian criminal organization is also suspected of bank fraud, wire fraud, and cargo theft. Criminal documents suggest that they diverted and hijacked freight trucks carrying millions of dollars’ worth of Amazon merchandise.
“We’ll see if more comes out of this, but a lot Russian organized crime is tied in with Russian intelligence services,” said Kempfer. “It’s like any other business. There’s a part where you compete, and there’s a part where you cooperate. The Armenians were always good at the cooperation side.”
On Tuesday, authorities recovered more than $100,000 in cash, three armored cars, and illegal weaponry. Authorities have not yet arrested one suspect.
“Investigators from the Burbank Police Department spent hundreds of hours investigating these heinous violent crimes,” said Burbank Police Chief Rafael Quintero. “The Burbank Police Department is grateful for the assistance from its law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office for their work in holding these individuals accountable for their actions.”
“Today’s arrests reflect that my office and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping America safe by dismantling transnational criminal organizations,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Let today’s enforcement action be a warning to criminals: Our communities are not your playground to engage in violence and thuggery.”
