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Federal Bureau of Investigation (press release)
July 8 2011
Leader of Armenian Organized Crime Ring Pleads Guilty in Manhattan
Federal Court to Racketeering
First `Vor' Convicted of Racketeering Offense in U.S.
U.S. Attorney's Office
July 08, 2011 Southern District of New York
(212) 637-2600
- filed under: Press Release
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of
New York, announced that ARMEN KAZARIAN pled guilty today in Manhattan
federal court to racketeering in connection with his involvement with
the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization, an Armenian-American organized
crime enterprise engaged in a wide range of criminal activity.
KAZARIAN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge PAUL A. GARDEPHE.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: `International organized
crime has emerged as one of the most serious law enforcement problems
of the 21st century. It is a problem that this office - and the
Department of Justice as a whole - is committed to rooting out. Today,
crime boss Armen Kazarian becomes the first known `Vor' to have been
convicted of racketeering, but he will not be the last. His guilty
plea should send a strong message to international gangsters all over
the world that if you commit crimes in this country, we will find you,
and we will prosecute you with the full force of the law.'
According to the indictment, other documents filed in this case, and
statements made during today's guilty plea proceeding:
ARMEN KAZARIAN was a `Vor,' a term translated as `Thief-in-Law.' The
term, refers to a member of a select group of high-level criminals
from Russia and the countries that had been part of the former Soviet
Union, including Armenia. `Vors' offer prestige and protection to
criminal organizations in return for a share of criminal earnings, and
use their position of authority to resolve disputes among criminals.
KAZARIAN admitted that he was a `Vor' when he was arrested on
racketeering charges in October 2010. The indictment charged him with
using his leadership position in the criminal community to assist
Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization, an Armenian-American organized crime
ring that engaged in an extensive range of criminal offenses including
the operation of a $100 million dollar Medicare fraud billing ring.
* * *
KAZARIAN, 47, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, which carries a
maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. In connection with his plea,
KAZARIAN admitted his association with the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian
Organization and further acknowledged engaging in extortion on the
organization's and his own behalf.
KAZARIAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge GARDEPHE on October 6,
2011, at 3:00 p.m.
U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA thanked the New York Field Office of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department,
the New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and the New
York Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human
Services for their work in the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Organized Crime Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys JENNIFER BURNS and ARLO DEVLIN-BROWN are in
charge of the prosecution.
http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2011/leader-of-armenian-organized-crime-ring-pleads-guilty-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-racketeering
July 8 2011
Leader of Armenian Organized Crime Ring Pleads Guilty in Manhattan
Federal Court to Racketeering
First `Vor' Convicted of Racketeering Offense in U.S.
U.S. Attorney's Office
July 08, 2011 Southern District of New York
(212) 637-2600
- filed under: Press Release
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of
New York, announced that ARMEN KAZARIAN pled guilty today in Manhattan
federal court to racketeering in connection with his involvement with
the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization, an Armenian-American organized
crime enterprise engaged in a wide range of criminal activity.
KAZARIAN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge PAUL A. GARDEPHE.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: `International organized
crime has emerged as one of the most serious law enforcement problems
of the 21st century. It is a problem that this office - and the
Department of Justice as a whole - is committed to rooting out. Today,
crime boss Armen Kazarian becomes the first known `Vor' to have been
convicted of racketeering, but he will not be the last. His guilty
plea should send a strong message to international gangsters all over
the world that if you commit crimes in this country, we will find you,
and we will prosecute you with the full force of the law.'
According to the indictment, other documents filed in this case, and
statements made during today's guilty plea proceeding:
ARMEN KAZARIAN was a `Vor,' a term translated as `Thief-in-Law.' The
term, refers to a member of a select group of high-level criminals
from Russia and the countries that had been part of the former Soviet
Union, including Armenia. `Vors' offer prestige and protection to
criminal organizations in return for a share of criminal earnings, and
use their position of authority to resolve disputes among criminals.
KAZARIAN admitted that he was a `Vor' when he was arrested on
racketeering charges in October 2010. The indictment charged him with
using his leadership position in the criminal community to assist
Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization, an Armenian-American organized crime
ring that engaged in an extensive range of criminal offenses including
the operation of a $100 million dollar Medicare fraud billing ring.
* * *
KAZARIAN, 47, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, which carries a
maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. In connection with his plea,
KAZARIAN admitted his association with the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian
Organization and further acknowledged engaging in extortion on the
organization's and his own behalf.
KAZARIAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge GARDEPHE on October 6,
2011, at 3:00 p.m.
U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA thanked the New York Field Office of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department,
the New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and the New
York Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human
Services for their work in the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Organized Crime Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys JENNIFER BURNS and ARLO DEVLIN-BROWN are in
charge of the prosecution.
http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2011/leader-of-armenian-organized-crime-ring-pleads-guilty-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-racketeering