3 Valley Casinos Caught In Million Dollar Theft Ring
Fourteen people were charged for taking part in an alleged high-tech scheme to steal more than $1 million from Citibank accounts using ATM kiosks at casinos in California and Nevada.
According to an indictment unsealed Tuesday, the defendants stole the money by exploiting a gap, which required multiple withdrawals all within 60 seconds, in Citibank’s electronic transaction security protocols. FBI agents assisted by the Glendale Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department arrested 13 of the defendants in the Los Angeles area last Wednesday and Thursday.
According to court documents, the alleged scheme worked as follows: defendant Ara Keshishyan recruited conspirators who were willing to open multiple Citibank checking accounts. He then supplied his co-defendants with “seed” money, which was deposited into the recently opened accounts.
After the money was deposited into the checking accounts, Keshishyan and his conspirators would travel to nearly a dozen casinos, including the Morongo, Pechanga, San Manuel, Agua Caliente, Chukchansi, and Spa Resort casinos in California; the Tropicana, Wynn, Bicycle, and Whiskey Pete’s casinos in Las Vegas; and Harrah’s in Laughlin.
When inside the casino, the conspirators, including Keshishyan, used cash advance kiosks at casinos in California and Nevada to withdraw (all within 60 seconds) several times the amount of money deposited into the accounts, by exploiting the Citibank security gap they discovered.
The indictment alleges that, after the cash was collected from the casino Keshishyan would typically give conspirators their cut and keep the remainder of the stolen funds, which were often used to gamble.
The complaint also says the casinos frequently comped the conspirators with free rooms due to their extensive gambling activity. As part of the alleged scheme, the defendants were also careful to keep both their deposits and withdrawals under $10,000 in order to avoid federal transaction reporting requirements and conceal their fraud.
All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to illegally structure financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. In addition, defendant Keshishyan is charged with 14 counts of bank fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The indictment also alleges forfeiture in connection with the crimes charged.
Spokespersons from the Morongo Casino,Spa Casino and Agua Caliente Casino, declined to comment, saying that the investigation is ongoing and all media inquiries are to be made to investigators on the case.
Below are the names of all those arrested in the case.
Defendants, Case Number: 12CR4352-JLS
Name Age Residence Ara Keshishyan 29 Fillmore, CA Ara Harutyunyan 30 Glendale, CA Artur Harutyunyan 24 Glendale, CA Vahe Asatrian 29 North Hollywood, CA Sarkis Mooshidian 37 Burbank, CA Levon Karamyan 58 Fugitive Migran Yamalyan 30 Winnetka, CA Seryozha Harutyunyan 59 Glendale, CA Lianna Avetisyan 24 North Hollywood, CA Ashot Oganisyan 30 Mission Hills, CA Ovsep Sarfyan 33 North Hollywood, CA Daniel J. Thomas 56 Huntington Beach, CA Hilda Hakverdyan 53 Glendale, CA Asatur Asatryan 33 Pasadena, CA
Summary of Charges
Count 1: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, and conspiracy to structure financial transactions in violation of Title 31, United States Code, Section 5324(a)(3) (all defendants)
Counts 2-15: Bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344 (Keshishyan)
Investigating Agency
Federal Bureau of Investigation
An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
