Arrests of Armenian Group in California

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/us/17armenian.html?_r=1&hp
Arrests of Armenian Group in Calif.
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: February 16, 2011
GLENDALE, Calif. — More than 70 members and associates of the Armenian Power organized crime group were arrested Wednesday morning across Southern California, the United States attorney’s office announced.

The arrests stemmed from two federal indictments that charged Armenian Power affiliates with crimes like narcotics trafficking, kidnapping and staging a bank fraud scheme worth $10 million.

Over the last few decades, the Armenian Power organization has evolved from a street gang based in the cities of Glendale and Burbank, both north of downtown Los Angeles, to a sophisticated organized crime organization with ties to the local Mexican Mafia, as well as international organized crime groups in Eastern Europe and Russia, F.B.I. officials said.

Officials said the organization’s technical sophistication — which involved credit card skimming at 99-cent stores — helped its members forge “thieves in law” relationships with other crime groups.

A.M.