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It sounds a little like something you might see on COPS: What was just going to be a routine traffic stop in Glendale turned out to be a major nab for the FBI.
Police pulled over Sarkis "Sako" Militonyan on January 27th because his white Chevy Tahoe had no plates and was positioned in two lanes. According to the Daily News, the cops "discovered he was a fugitive and a search of his SUV turned up several copies of purportedly stolen California drivers licenses, social security numbers, and banking routing and account numbers."
A search was then conducted at his home in Los Angeles, which netted "two boxes of .380 caliber automatic pistol rounds, which, under the terms of his probation, he was barred from possessing," according to reports.
The 44-year-old Militonyan is no stranger to the law, and in fact had been previously convicted for property theft and attempted extortion. He was on probation at the time of his traffic stop and subsequent arrest, and had been on the FBI's wanted list for his involvement in a federal health care fraud case. The Daily News explains:
Militonyan is accused of financing and operating at least two illicit medical clinics in Los Angeles, according to the indictment. Using the doctor's legitimate Medicare provider number, the men are accused of billing the taxpayer-funded federal Medicare program for services and tests that were not necessary or were not provided, then taking the cash for themselves, according to the indictment.
Militonyan is currently in custody. Health care fraud, particularly those involving Medicare, Medi-Cal, and the senior citizen community, is a costly and widespread problem in the state. Militonyan's fraudulent efforts allegedly brought him at least $1.5 million.
