Crime & Safety

FBI Agents Crack Down on Armenian Gang

A portion of Stern Avenue was closed for 8 hours as agents arrest alleged member of major gang. More than 70 arrests made.

The 4300 block of Stern Avenue in Sherman Oaks was sealed off Wednesday by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of a nationwide crackdown on a gang  that is being charged with a wide range of violent crimes.

Finally after more than 8 hours of waiting, a team of  more than ten agents wearing flak jackets and wielding M-4 rifles rushed the rear of the building at 4333 Stern Avenue and arrested a man wearing a black shirt and black trousers.

"So far today, 74 people have been arrested on charges of kidnapping, extortion, bank fraud, and narcotics trafficking," said United States Attorney Andre Birotte at a news  conference held at the Glendale Police Department."

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"The organized crime group we are targeting is called Armenian Power, the people arrested today are named in two federal indictments that charge a total of 88 people all linked to Armenian Power which is commonly called AP," added Birotte.

"In one case a man was kidnapped and held for a ransom of $500,000," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer.

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In addition to the violent crimes, the group which operated in Los Angeles, Orange County, Denver, and Miami are charged with white-collar crimes such as identity theft, and credit card skimming that victimized hundrds of credit card-holders out of more than $2 million, according to the indictment.

At one point just before noon, FBI agents wearing body armor entered the apartment building on Stern Avenue, they emerged ten minutes later with a middle aged woman and a teen age girl who were placed inside a car. They did not appear to be under arrest, but instead seemed to join the agents in waiting.

"We can't tell you what we are waiting for," said one of the agents at the barricade.

Everyone trying to enter the 4300 block of Stern Avenue was searched,one woman was asked  to open the trunk of her car. An elderly man told the agents that he lived in the building where the stakeout was in force. He was allowed to go home, but was told to remain inside his apartment.

The 134-count racketeering indictment includes more than  45o overt criminal acts said Birotte.

"The indictments target a group that appears willing to do anything and everything illegal to make a profit," added the US Attorney.

The man arrested in Sherman Oaks was not identified, he appeared to be in his twenties.  FBI agents involved in the arrest declined to identify the man they had just taken into custody.

"We can't tell you anything about this operation," said one of the agents.


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