In the San Fernando Valley, an alarming scene unfolded as a motorcyclist coasted to a stop on a heated street, retrieving a stepladder from a pickup truck. Leaning it against a high metal fence surrounding a two-story house, he proceeded to execute a brazen assault, opening fire with a rifle while still wearing his helmet.
A neighbor, who chose to remain anonymous for safety, witnessed the shocking event. He recounts his disbelief at the motorcyclist’s actions, which authorities later connected to escalating violence between rival Armenian criminal factions.
The incident occurred on August 18, 2023, targeting Vahan Harutyunyan, a convicted fraudster and alleged money launderer. According to a federal agent’s affidavit, this shooting represents a significant shift in the operations of Armenian organized crime in Los Angeles, which historically favored quiet monetary pursuits over overt warfare.
Typically, these crime families operated without drawing attention but now engage in violent retaliations and hits, utilizing modern surveillance methods such as drones and tracking devices to assist in targeting their rivals.
Federal authorities recently apprehended 13 individuals, including Harutyunyan, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping. His former neighbor, reflecting on the recent violence, remarked that he previously had no suspicion that he was living next to someone involved in organized crime.
After Harutyunyan endured a second shooting, resulting in six gunshot wounds, the neighbor commented, “I figured he had enemies,” highlighting the escalating tensions within the criminal underbelly of the Valley.
In Los Angeles, a melting pot for Armenian emigres, law enforcement emphasizes that no singular entity can claim the title of the “Armenian mob.” Instead, the city’s Armenian crime syndicates consist of diverse independent operatives who frequently collaborate for various illegal activities, including insurance fraud, drug trafficking, credit card scams, and kidnappings for ransom.
When disputes arise, these criminals may turn to a decentralized mediation system led by figures known as “thieves in law.” These individuals, often regarded as higher-ups, maintain connections to organized crime leaders in Russia, a crucial aspect of the operations outlined in the affidavit by Jerome Sandoval, a Department of Homeland Security Investigations agent.
Historically, Armen Kazarian reigned as the singular “thief in law” within Los Angeles. Kazarian, referred to as Pzo, fled Armenia in 1996 and established himself in Glendale, where he became known for his extravagant lifestyle, living in upscale accommodations and being chauffeured in a white Rolls Royce Phantom.
Documents indicate that Kazarian managed to maintain connections with various criminal circles, including scam artists and drug traffickers. By 2010, Kazarian faced racketeering charges as prosecutors accused him of mediating disputes for a group of fraudsters that swindled Medicare out of millions. After pleading guilty, he served three years in prison before deportation back to Armenia in 2017.
Following Kazarian’s departure, a struggle for power erupted between two men vying to fill the vacuum: Robert Amiryan and Ara Artuni. Amiryan, a burly figure with a background in illegal firearms, has longstanding ties with Toonerville, a gang in Atwater Village, while Artuni, who harbors no criminal past, has managed to position himself in the shadows.
Despite their differences, both men are regarded as “avtoritets,” a term denoting respect within their criminal circles, albeit at a lower rank than a “thief in law.” The affidavit suggests that Artuni orchestrated scams involving fake trucking companies that ransacked loads of merchandise, causing substantial financial losses to e-commerce businesses like Amazon.
A developing investigation has implicated Artuni in the 2020 homicide of Armen Sahakyan. The assault, marked by its brutality, saw a hitman don a clown mask while committing his violent act within Sahakyan’s family home. Following an exchange of fire, a gang member named Edward Lopez, who had prior affiliations, died at the scene, and law enforcement later connected him to Artuni’s criminal enterprise.
In the months subsequent to the aforementioned incident, Amiryan survived an attempted assassination when he was shot at while entering his garage. Led by suspicions about who was behind the attack, Amiryan resorted to kidnapping one of Artuni’s associates, employing extreme methods to retrieve information concerning the would-be hitman.
The LAPD became involved after the victim’s family tracked his phone to a location in Sun Valley leading to Amiryan and his crew’s capture. Inside the location, agents were confronted with a haunting scene that suggested a stop in the gruesome work of organized crime.
Following the adrenaline-fueled kidnapping operation, Amiryan and his crew found themselves exposed to escalating threats. A month later, while enjoying a moment of leisure on their balcony, Amiryan and his spouse were ambushed as gunfire erupted from a truck targeting their residence.
At this point, Harutyunyan became entangled in this bloody turf war, having just moved into the neighboring house in North Hills. When asked what he did for a living, Harutyunyan’s response of “professional gambler” belied his connections to the Armenian underworld.
His criminal history reveals a pattern of deception dating back to the 1990s, when he was convicted of fraud-related offenses, establishing a firm foothold in Glendale’s criminal circles. After his release from prison, he quickly took measures to enhance his home’s security, but the well-coordinated operations of his enemies continued to infiltrate his life.
On multiple occasions, Harutyunyan found himself under siege. His home became the target of gunfire on two separate occasions, leaving bullets embedded within the structure walls and even penetrating his refrigerator.
Clearly, Harutyunyan possessed enemies, as highlighted by the sordid details of his battles with Artuni, who was revealed to have used drones for reconnaissance before executing hits.
In April 2024, Artuni made his way to Armenia, allegedly reprimanded by other crime figures displeased with his aggressive tactics against Amiryan. Upon returning to the United States months later, the cycle of violence reignited.
In March, masked assailants shot Amiryan’s spouse as she returned home with their children from her day. The police subsequently monitored the escalating hostilities, leading to apprehensions of Amiryan, Artuni, and other associates in a significant sweep on May 20.
In a somber turn, the courtroom was filled with the accused on Monday, handcuffed and dressed in jumpsuits, entering pleas of not guilty to grave charges, including kidnapping and racketeering. The atmosphere underscored growing tensions within the criminal community as they navigated the precarious line between power, retribution, and survival.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-11/armenian-crime-war
