LA family sentenced in federal credit card racket

SANTA ANA – Three members of a Los Angeles family who operated a credit card “bust-out” scheme near Little Armenia have been sentenced to up to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges, authorities announced today.

Arutyun Sarkisyan, 27, of Silverlake, led an identity-theft ring that operated in Russia and the United States and that netted more than a quarter-million dollars, prosecutors said.

He was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison.

Arutyun Sarkisyan's brother, Ara Sarkisyan, 23, also of Silverlake, was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Sarkisyan's mother, Asmik Sarkisyan, 48, also of Silverlake, was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

All three were also ordered to pay a total of $263,291 in restitution to Chase Bank.

In December 2008, the Sarkisyans and four others were named in a 46-count federal grand jury indictment, alleging they bilked Chase Bank by posing as Chase Bank credit card account holders. They used personal identification information belonging to the legitimate account holders, requesting that an authorized user be added to victims’ credit card accounts, the indictment alleged.

The conspirators then asked Chase Bank to issue an additional credit card in the name or alias of one of the defendants.

After fraudulently obtaining a credit card, members of the scheme would “bust out” the credit card by obtaining cash advances at banks and casinos, or by purchasing jewelry and other pricey merchandise at department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, the indictment alleged.

Arutyun Sarkisyan and Ara Sarkisyan have been in custody since last November. Asmik Sarkisyan was ordered into custody after being sentenced.

Earlier this year, Arutyun Sarkisyan's cousin, Parunak Tukmanyan, 27, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Alexandr Moshkov, 21, also of Los Angeles, were sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Police were still looking for two others in connection with the case.

Giyosiddin Nizomov, 30, and Bunyod Sharipov, 23, both of Los Angeles, were indicted in the scheme. They are believed to be in Tajikistan.

The case against Arutyun Sarkisyan and his six co-defendants is one of 10 related indictments that charge a total of 16 defendants. Other defendants charged separately with various fraud offenses include Arutyun Sarkisyan's mother-in-law, his sister's father-in-law, and other relatives and friends.