{"id":61748,"date":"2026-09-12T12:40:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61748"},"modified":"2026-09-12T12:40:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:40:08","slug":"glendale-man-pleads-guilty-usps-truck-mail-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61748","title":{"rendered":"California Man Admits Plot to Steal 30 USPS Trucks and Mail From 232 Victims, Estimated theft $349,530"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"LOS ANGELES \u2014<\/strong> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Postal Trucks Targeted During Deliveries<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The group stole approximately 30 Postal Service vehicles, each valued at $11,651. Their combined value was about $349,530.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors said the thefts involved mail belonging to approximately 232 victims and 100 credit and debit cards issued to other people.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartoonian also admitted unlawfully possessing a victim\u2019s credit card number during a January 2024 operation targeting a Postal Service vehicle and its mail.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sentencing Set for December<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"WestU.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder scheduled Hartoonian\u2019s sentencing for Dec. 7. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of seven years in federal prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three co-defendants also have pleaded guilty and remain in federal custody:<\/span><\/p>\n