FBI Raids Hollywood Mansion in Mortgage Fraud Case
Early Thursday morning, FBI agents executed a raid on a mansion in Hollywood, arresting a suspect who was found in pajamas. This operation is part of a broader investigation into a $17.4 million mortgage fraud scheme that has reportedly targeted elderly homeowners.
The prosecution revealed that the scheme caused losses of around $6 million. Eleven individuals, including citizens from Iran and Azerbaijan, have been charged with stealing identities of victims to secure unauthorized mortgages and misappropriating the funds.
During the raid, agents surrounded the residence, and when the suspect exited with his hands raised, he was promptly handcuffed. Reports indicate that luxury vehicles were parked outside the renovated home. The operation is dubbed “Operation Hard Money.”
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Ezeiri, such extensive fraud is still prevalent in California, and this operation highlights the sophisticated tactics criminals employ. He emphasized that the Department of Justice intends to combat these fraudulent activities and ensure faced defendants receive substantial prison sentences.
FBI Director Kash Patel also commended the effort on social media, acknowledging the significant fraud bust in California.
The suspects are primarily charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and various wire fraud counts, with additional charges for aggravated identity theft and money laundering for several of them, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Authorities reported that from 2021 to 2023, the group specifically targeted elderly homeowners, stealing sensitive personal information to forge identities. They used this information to create fake IDs and email accounts, applying for substantial “hard money” loans and submitting fraudulent documents, including bank statements and rental agreements.
In total, the scheme was said to involve multiple properties across Los Angeles, including neighborhoods like Hollywood and Chinatown.
The defendants include Nazaret Chakrian (65), Arnold Moradian (57), Abetis Hekimyan (38), Ross Tarkan (32), Tigran Hovhanesyan (56), Amen Valdebaryan (55), Craig Higdon (66), Helen Spangler (62), Victor Rossi (43), Marine Sarkisian (49), and Cynthia Borjas (51).
Prosecutors noted that two of the arrested individuals are foreign nationals, with Moradian being an Iranian national who has a pending expulsion warrant, and Sarkisyan, an Azerbaijani green card holder.
If found guilty, these defendants could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each fraud and money laundering count, in addition to mandatory consecutive two-year sentences for each identity theft charge.
The investigation is a collaborative effort by the FBI-led Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force, along with the IRS Criminal Investigation Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement agencies.
