LOS ANGELES – An associate of the Armenian Power gang was convicted Tuesday for his role in attempting to steal millions of dollars from the bank accounts of elderly customers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Andranik Aloyan, 40, of Los Angeles, was among 90 people charged in two indictments, including a 140-count indictment in July 2011 charging 70 defendants with a variety of criminal activities associated with the Armenian Power gang.
According to evidence at trial, Aloyan possessed personal and financial information of more than 75 mostly elderly customers of banks throughout the country. The combined value of the accounts for which Aloyan possessed account information exceeded $25 million.
The indictment accused 29 defendants, including Aloyan, of participating in the Armenian Power racketeering conspiracy that involved a host of illegal activities such as sophisticated fraudulent schemes of bank fraud, identity theft, debit-card skimming, manufacturing counterfeit checks and laundering criminal proceeds.
In addition, defendants in the case were allegedly involved in a variety of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, extortion and firearms offenses, along with other crimes including drug trafficking and illegal gambling.
Aloyan was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, attempted bank fraud, access device fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to evidence at trial, Aloyan possessed personal and financial information of more than 75 mostly elderly customers of banks throughout the country. The combined value of the accounts for which Aloyan possessed account information exceeded $25 million.
The indictment accused 29 defendants, including Aloyan, of participating in the Armenian Power racketeering conspiracy that involved a host of illegal activities such as sophisticated fraudulent schemes of bank fraud, identity theft, debit-card skimming, manufacturing counterfeit checks and laundering criminal proceeds.
In addition, defendants in the case were allegedly involved in a variety of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, extortion and firearms offenses, along with other crimes including drug trafficking and illegal gambling.
According to court documents, the Armenian Power criminal street gang formed in the East Hollywood district of Los Angeles in the 1980s. The gang’s membership of 250 people consisted primarily of individuals of Armenian descent, as well as of other countries within the former Soviet bloc.
Aloyan is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2.