Wedding plans have been delayed indefinitely for Eduard Gasparyan and Angela Karchyan. Or at least until after they complete their sentences. On the bright side, they both will have plenty of time to plan the nuptials while hanging out in prison for unemployment fraud and grand larceny. Call it the next sequel to “Fast and Furious: The Fraudsters.”
From 2020 to September 2022, Gasparyan and his fiancée Karchyan used stolen identities to apply for unemployment insurance benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Gasparyan and Karchyan then used the debit cards containing the unemployment benefits to withdraw cash at ATMs. They were fast and furious with the whole process. For example, on August 23, 2021, Gasparyan was filmed via surveillance camera at a bank ATM withdrawing $4,500 from nine debit cards within a 7-minute span. Interesting that three of the debit cards were issued in Gasparyan’s own name.
Good checking of personal identifying information on those applications. More than $850,000 in jobless benefits were paid out on nearly 50 claims to only two California addresses tied to Gasparyan and Karchyan. Only to use those fraudulently obtained proceeds, for their next scheme. Stealing cars.
The dynamic duo, using the stolen identities, used fake checks and bank account numbers, to buy vehicles. They also would rent cars rent cars, then use fraudulent documents to register the vehicles in their names, defrauding the rental car companies. No blazing car races in this film. Only two fraudsters who have not only stolen from the U.S. taxpayer, but also caused tremendous damage the victims whose names been used in this grand larceny scheme, as they now face a lifetime of bad credit.
On June 9, 2024, Gasparyan was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Karchyan was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. Both must repay more than $2.2 million in restitution.
Great job by the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Pandemic grifter, car thief sentenced to 17 years in federal prison” published by KTLA5 on February 9, 2024
A Granada Hills man was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for his role in a COVID-19 aid fraud scheme and stealing dozens of cars using fake documents.
Eduard Gasparyan, 38, was sentenced to 210 months in prison and will have to pay more than $2.2 million in restitution, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.Gasparyan, who als9 used the names “Rudy Pineda” and “Papin Galstyan,” pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
