California Runaway Couple Sentenced for $ 20 Million COVID-19 Aid Fraud
The scheme involved the use of dozens of fake or stolen identities to submit fraudulent applications for approximately 150 loans.
Photo: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images
A couple from California was sentenced to prison for illegally obtaining more than $ 20 millions of dollars in COVID relief funds – 19 , but the authorities must catch them first.
Richard Ayvazyan, from 43 years, he was sentenced to 17 years behind bars and his wife, Marietta Terabelian, from 37 years, received a six-year sentence in federal prison on Monday for conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering, according to the Justice Department. .
The FBI continues to seek fugitives Richard Ayvazyan, 43, & Marietta Terabelian, 31, both of whom fled home detention after being convicted in a massive # Covid fraud case. Please call us at 3104776565 to claim a # reward up to $ 20 K with info as to their whereabouts # FugitiveFriday pic. twitter.com/mzXIdkVr3v
In June, Ayvazyan and his wife Marietta were convicted by a federal jury of conspiring with family members and others to defraud the government millions in Disaster Economic Injury Loan and Paycheck Protection Program relief funds.
But before your sentence, the couple allegedly cut off their monitoring armbands and fled , according to the FBI.
A judge sentenced them in absentia Monday while they remained at large, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Ayvazyan’s brother Artur from 41 years, he was ordered to serve five years in federal prison.
The scheme involved the use of dozens of false or stolen identities to submit fraudulent applications for approximately 150 loans, who applied with false identity and tax documents and payroll records, authorities said.
Some of the stolen identities belonged to dead and elderly residents , as well as foreign exchange students who briefly visited the US
The funds, which were intended to help companies in difficulty during the pandemic, were later used as a down payment on luxury homes in Tarzana, Glendale and Palm Desert in California.
The money was also used to buy coins from gold, diamonds, jewelry, luxury watches, imported furniture, designer handbags, clothing and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
“The accused They lived a luxurious lifestyle by defrauding the government at the expense of small businesses and American taxpayers already facing financial and pandemic-related difficulties, ”said Kristi K. Johnson of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
The FBI offers a reward of up to $ 20, 000 dollars for information leading to the arrest of the husband and wife duo.
“The FBI is actively investigating the whereabouts of the fugitives Terabelia ny Ayvazyan and will persecute them until they are arrested to pay for their crimes, ”Johnson added to the KTLA5 network.
At the sentencing hearing on Monday , US District Judge Stephen V. Wilson said he could not recall a fraud case carried out in such a “cruel and willful manner without regard to the law.”
The judge described Richard Ayvazyan as “an endemic and ruthless con artist who does not respect the law” and someone who “sees fraud as an achievement.”
In court, Ayvazyan’s attorney, Ashwin J. Ram, said the family suspects that he and his wife were abducted, but prosecutors say there is no evidence to support that, reported the Los Angeles Times.
The Ayvazyan and Terabelian brothers were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, Wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The brothers were also convicted of aggravated identity theft.
Ayvazyan and Terabelian were ordered to seize bank accounts, jewelry, watches, gold coins, three residential properties and approximately $ 450, 000 cash dollars.
The three family members were not the only ones convicted in the case.
Manuk Grigoryan of 31 years, from Sun Valley ,, Edvard Paronyan, from 39, from Granada Hills; Vahe Dadyan, of 42, of Glendale and Arman Hayrapetyan, of 39, of Glendale, all have been convicted in connection with the COVID aid scam – 19.
Tamara Dadyan, from 42 years, Encino, is also scheduled to be sentenced in December.
“The defendants used the COVID crisis – 19 to steal millions of dollars in much-needed government aid to individuals and businesses suffering the economic effects of the worst pandemic in a century, “said the federal prosecutor.
