LOS ANGELES — A Glendale man pleaded guilty to leading a scheme that stole about 30 U.S. Postal Service vehicles and mail belonging to more than 200 victims across Los Angeles County, federal prosecutors announced.
Vegen Hartoonian, 46, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. He has remained in federal custody since October 2025.
According to his plea agreement, Hartoonian and his co-conspirators followed Postal Service vehicles in rented cars from September 2023 through November 2024. The vehicles included a Dodge Caravan, a BMW, GMC SUVs and a Mitsubishi Outlander.
In one September 2023 incident, the conspirators used stolen credit card information to pay for the rental vehicle used to follow a postal truck, prosecutors said.
Postal Trucks Targeted During Deliveries
The conspirators waited until mail carriers stepped away from their vehicles to make deliveries, then stole the trucks and drove them to other locations, where they removed the mail, according to the plea agreement.
The group stole approximately 30 Postal Service vehicles, each valued at $11,651. Their combined value was about $349,530.
Prosecutors said the thefts involved mail belonging to approximately 232 victims and 100 credit and debit cards issued to other people.
The crimes occurred in Glendale, Culver City and Commerce, as well as the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Eagle Rock, Hollywood, Mount Washington, Silver Lake and West Adams.
Hartoonian also admitted unlawfully possessing a victim’s credit card number during a January 2024 operation targeting a Postal Service vehicle and its mail.
Sentencing Set for December
U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder scheduled Hartoonian’s sentencing for Dec. 7. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of seven years in federal prison.
Three co-defendants also have pleaded guilty and remain in federal custody:
- Jose Arviso, 50, of San Bernardino
- Sanjay Varma, 44, of Pasadena
- Juan Nuñez, 25, of Highland Park
A fifth defendant, Mark Anthony Quitugua, 43, of Lincoln Heights, pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in January 2027. He was released on $10,000 bond.
An indictment contains allegations. Quitugua is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting it.
🔴 Quick Fact Checklist
🔴 Lead defendant: Vegen Hartoonian, 46, of Glendale
🔴 Guilty plea entered: Sept. 11, 2026
🔴 Postal vehicles stolen: Approximately 30
🔴 Estimated vehicle value: $349,530 combined
🔴 Mail-theft victims: Approximately 232
🔴 Credit and debit cards: 100
🔴 Scheme operated: September 2023-November 2024
🔴 Charges: Conspiracy and aggravated identity theft
🔴 Maximum possible sentence: Seven years
🔴 Sentencing date: Dec. 7
🔴 Investigating agency: U.S. Postal Inspection Service
News-Related Videos
Note: The videos below concern similar Southern California mail and postal-vehicle thefts. They do not depict Hartoonian or the charged conspiracy unless expressly stated.