WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: The US Flag flies above a sign marking the US Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters building on January 20, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images)
Los Angeles, California – In a major multi-state operation, law enforcement officials arrested 13 individuals allegedly tied to Armenian organized crime groups accused of a sprawling range of violent and financial crimes across California and Florida. Authorities say the arrests mark a significant step in dismantling a transnational criminal network with deep roots in Los Angeles.
Federal complaints filed this week allege that the suspects engaged in a brutal turf war involving attempted murder and kidnapping, while also orchestrating multimillion-dollar fraud and theft schemes that targeted online retailers like Amazon. The arrests, carried out today in coordinated raids, are part of a broader federal crackdown on international crime syndicates operating in the U.S.
Among those arrested is Ara Artuni, 41, of Porter Ranch, who is accused of orchestrating an attempted murder of a rival in 2023. That rival, Robert Amiryan, 46, of Hollywood, is separately charged with kidnapping and torturing one of Artuni’s associates in retaliation. Authorities describe both men as avtoritet—a Russian term denoting criminal “authority”—and say their feud is part of a violent power struggle to control organized crime in the San Fernando Valley.
“Since 2022, these organizations have brought violence to our neighborhoods and stolen tens of millions through complex fraud,” said a federal investigator familiar with the case. “This is not street-level crime—it’s cartel-level coordination.”
Federal agents seized 14 firearms, three armored vehicles, and roughly $100,000 in cash during the raids. One suspect remains at large. Two others—Levon Arakelyan of Las Vegas and Ivan Bojorquez of Gardena—are already in state custody on unrelated charges.
According to court documents, the Artuni-led group allegedly stole over $83 million in goods from Amazon through a cargo theft scheme. Members posed as legitimate freight carriers, secured contracts, then disappeared with entire shipments mid-route. Investigators say the same group also ran a credit card fraud operation, charging cards through a fake business and draining accounts before financial institutions could intervene.
“This group operated with the structure and brutality of an international cartel,” said Dwayne Angebrandt, Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles. “Their crimes impacted both public safety and global commerce.”
While officials praised the arrests, they also highlight the long reach of international organized crime and the complexity of investigating such networks. The accused face charges ranging from wire fraud and firearm possession to kidnapping and attempted murder. They could face sentences ranging from a decade to life in prison if convicted.
Local and federal agencies, including the LAPD, Burbank Police, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the ATF, collaborated on the investigation. Officials emphasized the importance of multi-agency cooperation in addressing the evolving threat transnational criminal organizations pose.
“These arrests send a message,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. “Our neighborhoods are not safe havens for violence and fraud.”
The cases fall under Operation Take Back America, a DOJ initiative to root out transnational criminal groups and strengthen public safety nationwide.
