Four Defendants Charged in Credit Card Skimming Scheme in Which Stolen Account Information Was Used to Purchase Large Amounts of Fuel for Resale

Four men were arrested on Thursday and Friday for their roles in an identity theft scheme involving the theft of credit card numbers used to fraudulently purchase fuel at gas stations, announced Timothy Delaney, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and André Birotte Jr., the United States Attorney for Los Angeles. The announcement was made on behalf of agents and federally deputized state law enforcement officers from the following agencies: Burbank Police Department, Glendale Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI.

Three of the following four defendants were arrested on Thursday by members of the task force, without incident. The fourth defendant, Vardan Mkryan, was arrested this morning after surrendering to members of the task force. The defendants were named in two criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on August 15 which charges them with access device fraud conspiracy, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2). The defendants named in the complaints are:

■Vardan Mkryan, 42, Toluca Lake

■Vahe Harutunyun, 28, North Hollywood

■Khachik Karabadzhakyan, 58, Oxnard

■Sedrak Karabadzhakyan, 24, Oxnard

Following a long-term investigation by the Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force that resulted in the indictment of dozens of members or associates of the “Armenian Power” criminal enterprise, task force members developed information indicating that a resident of Toluca Lake, Vardan Mkryan, was involved in a variety of criminal activities, according to the complaint. Mkryan managed several gas stations in the Los Angeles area.

According to the allegations contained in the complaint, during the investigation, task force members observed the defendants on various occasions purchasing fuel at several gas stations in Los Angeles using credit card account numbers later determined to have been used fraudulently. The gas was pumped into large vans or utility trucks outfitted with storage tanks that could hold hundreds of gallons of fuel. The fuel was then consolidated into a fuel tanker in order to be sold, distributed, or otherwise used by the defendants in order to obtain criminal proceeds and to conceal the proceeds of their criminal activity, according to the complaint. The scheme involved identity theft against 50 victims and losses of over $50,000.

Fourteen federal search warrants were executed throughout the day on Thursday by task force members seeking evidence related to the fraud schemes in support of this continuing investigation.

The defendants had their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

If convicted of the charges in the complaint the defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

This case is a continuing investigation by the EOCTF, which is comprised of agents with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and federally deputized state law enforcement officers from local agencies, including the Glendale Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Burbank Police Department.

The defendants will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.

Media Contact:

FBI: (310) 996-3343

United States Attorney’s Office: (213) 894-0480

North Hollywood Man Arrested After Being Indicted Under New Legislation Making it a Crime to Point a Laser at an Aircraft

LOS ANGELES—A North Hollywood man was taken into custody this morning after being charged in a federal indictment that alleges he pointed the beam of a laser at multiple aircraft, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office; and André Birotte, Jr., the United States Attorney in Los Angeles.

Adam Gardenhire,18, was arrested this morning at his North Hollywood residence without incident. Gardenhire was named in a two-count indictment filed yesterday in United States District Court in Los Angeles that alleges he pointed the beam of a laser at a private plane and a police helicopter.

The federal statute used to charge Gardenhire is part of new legislation recently signed into law by President Obama that makes it a federal crime to deliberately point a laser at an aircraft. The indictment marks the second time a violation of the new statute has been charged in the United States, and the first time one has been charged on the West Coast.

According to the indictment, Gardenhire deliberately aimed a commercial-grade green laser at multiple aircraft on the evening of March 29, 2012. The laser attack was initially reported by a pilot operating a privately owned Cessna Citation. The indictment further alleges that the beam of Gardenhire’s laser was pointed at a helicopter operated by a pilot with the Pasadena Police Department who was responding to the report of the laser attack on the Cessna. Air and ground investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Pasadena Police Department identified Gardenhire as a suspect later that evening, and Gardenhire was taken into custody on state charges of pointing a laser at an aircraft. Gardenhire subsequently posted bail and was released from local custody while the joint investigation continued.

Reports of laser attacks have increased dramatically in recent years as laser devices have become more affordable and widely available to the public. In addition, technology has advanced the effectiveness of laser devices, with a resulting increase in the potential safety hazards for pilots operating aircraft and their passengers and crew. Such safety hazards include temporary distraction and impaired vision, which is particularly dangerous during the critical takeoff or landing phase of flight. In addition, pilots have reported the need to abort landings or relinquish control of the aircraft to another pilot as a result of laser attacks. California consistently leads the nation in reports of laser attacks. Over 3,500 laser attacks were reported in 2011.

Gardenhire is scheduled to make an initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge this afternoon in federal court in downtown Los Angeles.

If convicted of both charges in the indictment, Gardenhire faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Gardenhire is also subject to civil penalties by the Federal Aviation Administration.

This investigation was conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Pasadena Police Department, the Burbank Police Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the FBI.

Gardenhire is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.