Three members of a family previously Los Angeles who ran a credit card scheme near Little Armenia were sentenced up to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges. The three, who were originally from Ukraine, were charged of fraud and were tried in the state of California.
Arutyun Sarkisyan, 27, of Silverlake, pleaded guilty to leading an identity theft fraud ring that operated in the United States and Russia, which netted the group a quarter million dollars. Prosecutors say he is sentenced to 96 months in federal prison. His brother, Ara Sarkisyan, 23, also of Silverlake, will be serving a sentence of 41 months. Sarkisyan's mother, Asmik Sarkisyan, 48, also of Silverlake, received a sentence of 15 months. Aside from their prison term, all three will have to pay credit card issuer Chase $263,291 in restitution fee.
December last year, the Sarkisyans and four others were accused of bilking Chase Banks by posing as legitimate credit card holders for the bank. Prosecutors report that they used personal identifying information of legitimate cardholders and were able to rob them by requesting for authorized user in those accounts.
After getting a credit card by fraud, members of the ring would use up all the available credit of the plastic by acquiring cash advances from casinos and banks, or by purchasing expensive merchandise such as jewelry. Prosecutors further reveal that Saks Fifth Avenue was among the stores they worked their credit card scheme on.
Arutyun Sarkisyan and Ara Sarkisyan have been detained by authorities since November last year. Asmik Sarkisyan was brought to custody after the sentenced was passed. They are not the first members of the same family to be sentenced for fraud charges.
Earlier this year, the brothers’ cousin, Parunak Tukmanyan, 27, also from Los Angeles, was found guilty by federal court and sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Another relative, Alexander Moshkov, 21, from Los Angeles as well, is serving his 18-month term in prison.
Two others involved in the credit card scheme are still being sought by federal investigators.
Giyosiddin Nizomov, 30, and Bunyod Sharipov, 23, both working with the family in Los Angeles, are facing indictment in the scheme. Authorities believe they are now hiding in Tajikistan.
The case against Arutyun Sarkisyan and six other defendants is one of ten related indictments involving a total of 16 defendants. Several other relatives are facing various fraud charges, including Arutyun Sarkisyan's sister's father-in-law, mother-in-law, and other relatives. He also has friends who are facing fraud indictments, some working with credit card schemes.