[KHTS] – A Valencia man and leader of the Armenian Power gang was convicted of 57 counts for his role in racketeering conspiracy that included extortion, bank fraud and a sophisticated credit and debit card skimming scheme.
Mher Darbinyan, 39, of Valencia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who described the defendant’s string of crimes as “heinous.” Darbinyan was sentenced to 32 years in prison.
Darbinyan – who was also known as “Hollywood Mike” and “Capone” – was a leader of Armenian Power, a gang responsible for extortion, firearms offenses, fraud and identity theft throughout the Los Angeles area. Among other offenses, Darbinyan operated a sophisticated bank fraud scheme that used middlemen and runners to deposit and cash hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks drawn on the accounts of elderly bank customers and businesses.
Mher Darbinyan, aka “Capone” and “Hollywood Mike”
Darbinyan also organized and operated a sophisticated debit card skimming operation targeting customers of 99 Cents Only Stores across Southern California. This expansive scheme involved the installation and use of skimmers to steal thousands of customers’ debit card numbers and PIN codes.
Evidence presented during a trial earlier this year also showed that Darbinyan conspired to extort money from a member of the Armenian community by threatening violence against the victim and his family members. Additionally, on two separate occasions, Darbinyan possessed firearms and ammunition after having previously been convicted of felony grand theft for his role in a 2004 debit card fraud scheme.
“No community is safe from defendant — not the members of his own Armenian-American community and not the members of the multiple communities throughout Southern California that he has victimized through his widespread fraud schemes,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court that recommended the 32-year sentence.
Darbinyan was among 90 individuals charged in 2011 in two indictments targeting Armenian Power.
To date, 87 individuals have been convicted (two defendants are fugitives, and prosecutors dismissed charges against one defendant).
According to evidence presented during the Armenian Power trials, the street gang – which is believed to have more than 250 documented members and hundreds of associates – is responsible for violent criminal acts, including murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, robberies, extortions and witness intimidation.
The Armenian Power cases were investigated by the Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force, which is comprised of the FBI, the Glendale Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Burbank Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Secret Service. The Huntington Beach Police Department and Beverly Hills Police Department provided assistance.
The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice.
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REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
143 Comments
Vanessa Rivera wtf
awesometown? no cant be. lol!
Sebouh John Ohannessian they’re cracking down on your kind
Gives us a bad name.
Don’t worry that on him.
For every guys this, there are thousands of Armenians that live outstanding lives. There are guys like this in every ethnicity so don’t sweat it.
He can’t be from awesome town?!? Haha! Oh the under belly!
Pargev Grigoryan any relation? Lol
No comment bro.
Pargev Grigoryan any relation? Lol
For shame!!!
For shame!!!
No probably from burbank or glendale! Lmfao
No probably from burbank or glendale! Lmfao
Never heard of him
Never heard of him
Peter Haddad
Peter Haddad
Never Judge A Culture By An Individual!!!
People are very ignorant.
Never Judge A Culture By An Individual!!!
Cee Bee you homie?
Cee Bee you homie?
Hahahahaha, when’s your stand up? Drew Burnett you ever going to come out and play or stay on lock down
They traced the smell of Ciggs and cologne, that’s how he was caught
Your girl bangs Armenians too?? You found out by the smell of ciggs and cologne ? Lol Marco Marco I can just read between the lines.
Lol
Ahh, dejen 3n paz a mi novio!
Wow
He’ll make a lot of “friends” in prison with that goatee 8-)
Wth:-O
I’ve been operating my business in SCV for many years and providing a 100% customer service. Everyone knows I’m Armenian. They can at least tell by my last name. But I’ve never had SCVTV saying anything good about it. Now we have one idiot getting cut for what he did and there we are…
Gary, we have no record of you ever having sent us a press release about your business.
Gary, we have no record of you ever having sent us a press release about your business.
I’ll work on that. Thank you for your reply.
I’ll work on that. Thank you for your reply.
Bro, my mercedes bro
Dude, my camry dude
Awwww did u get offended? Im sure you are a scumbag just like him.
david you look like a q-tip, shutup
Hahaha. Bro.
David I feel sorry for your future son ..his gonna have a racist as a father
I married an Asian girl and my best friends are Persian. I was just messing around relax.
So thanks to prop 47 and it not being a violent crime its not a felony, he will be out tomorrow
Thank you.
George Madoyan
Glad they convicted him.
Not in Awesome town!!!
Arthur Chivichyan judo?
I dont think hes going to like prison food at all.
Art Haserjian
Your wetback and taco smell musta distracted them for a while before they can smell d ciggs and the cologne uou cant even prolly afford to buy @marcolopez
regardless of any race.. a crime is a crime..
If he was convicted in 2004 and 2011, how come he wasn’t deported?
Where does it say he’s illegal? Not every person with an unusual last name is illegal Ms. Baicoianu.
Maybe he’s born United States and He is citizen of United States like you
your ignorance comes second to none
If he was born in the US, or became a US citizen, then he is an American, and for the press to refer to him as Armenian is immigration baiting.
If he was born in the US, or became a US citizen, then he is an American, and for the press to refer to him as Armenian is immigration baiting.
No Sheila, those are commonly referred to as facts.
Sheila Bateman Baicoianu, if you read the article you’re commenting about before leaving your comment, you would see that we did not refer to anyone’s ethnicity. We reported the name of a criminal organization. We don’t know the ethnicity of its members, and we can’t imagine why you would associate criminality with race. In truth, we didn’t “refer to” anything at all; we republished a version of the FBI press release. If you have a problem with the FBI’s use of the criminal organization’s name, we suggest you call the FBI at (202) 514-2007.
Lmao awesome
Am mot Kizy .go beck to your home
We don’t need that kind of people in back home stay over here more better.
And what they failed to mention is that he was also a high ranking member of the Mexican Mafia
Wait – you can be a member of Armenian Mafia and ‘La Eme’?!?!?
Yes, armenian power members are considered Surenos, they can work their way up within the Prisons. They pay taxes and obide by the rules of the Mexican mafia.
How do you know this, Erik?
Im from La
@Anthony he’s the first Armenian to become a carnal.
Gev Ar
Criminals come from all ethnicities.
Shame…deport him and all like him NOW!!!
If they deport everyone like him, the prison will close down…
Depart where we don’t need that kind of person in back home
That is a stupid crook,thinking nobody can catch up to him
Veterans day post gets 14 likes and a poor comment. A post about an individual who committed crimes and happens to be an Armenian gets over 130 likes and dozens of comments most full of racism ! SCVTV you and most of your viewers/listeners are racist. There are Millions of Armenians doing great things all around Los Angeles and you don’t write about it, do you think you have the right to write about an individual who committed crimes and mention that he is Armenian? I understand that your excuse will be “we only report news that we think are important ” and that is why you as a news agency no longer have any credibility for me.
Sam, I don’t see SCVTV as the problem here. They didn’t hold a gun to people’s heads and force them to sound ignorant-the fine people of this valley did that all by themselves. And rest assured Sam, the racist commenters will find an outlet to look stupid in, whether it’s here or elsewhere. I don’t blame you for being angry though-alot of people take the low road instead of elevating.
Nancy Galoussian vay vay vay amot! lol
No kebab in jail
No more Mercedes, no bmw, no Sean John , no Burberry, no ferragamo, no Gucci, nothing
caesar you dont have any of those things outside of jail
To racism People ,this Armenian Dr. Create MRI machine saving peoples live with that machine all the world.
deport him now with the other criminal illegal mexicans ….
Aren’t you an intelligent being? Stick to taking orders at McDonald’s.
You sounds more suitable to that position darling …
We don’t need a criminal back home stay over here more better 80% of people that are criminal over here
Hermy Bastian
Send Him And All These Wantbee Gangsters Back To There Homelands..All they Do is Robb Lie, Cheat And Steal!!!!!
But There Are a Few That are Normal
This is the response I get. Shame on you
Sam don’t be shame we have a mafia Biggest mafia in the world America
Sam, they were only explaining the reference in the article. They were not referring to you in any way. You are taking this personally and SCVTV is just reporting what happened.
Sean, I wish that I didn’t take this so personally but I can’t. People always make these jokes affiliating Armenians with some sort of fraudulent activities. And that is because that’s all the media writes about Armenians. I mean it’s veterans day, write about Armenian veterans who fought many wars for our country if you need to fill in the “Armenian ” feed spot. Armenian power gang is one of the reasons Armenian kids started going to schools here in LA without being bullied anymore. The criminal activities of this group are mainly on individual group members and mostly non violent. I understand that I’m making a big deal about it, but all these small incidents all these seemingly non biased posts add up to make an opinion about Armenians , and if the good deeds that we do don’t get reported if not more then at least as many times, I’m afraid people will form a very wrong and harmful opinion about us.
Fair enough, but there is a large cross section of people who don’t judge based on stereotypes. You have to have faith in each individual until they prove themselves unworthy of your trust.
Fair enough, but there is a large cross section of people who don’t judge based on stereotypes. You have to have faith in each individual until they prove themselves unworthy of your trust.
Sam Shahbazyan – “People always make these jokes affiliating Armenians with some sort of fraudulent activities.” Don’t know what people you hang out with, but it’s sad to think you have been subjected to that, wherever you used to live. (Assuming you’re in Santa Clarita now.) You’ve come to the right place; we don’t know any Armenian jokes. But we do know that people of Armenian ancestry have been active – VERY active – participants in the Santa Clarita Valley’s business community for 60, 70, 80 years. Many are our business associates. We (and older local media) have reported on them throughout that time – not because they might be of Armenian ancestry, but because of their involvement in the business community, in law enforcement, in all sorts of things. When we ran the FBI press release and photo of that jerk who happens to live in Valencia, we did not see an “Armenian.” We saw a “criminal.”
Ok Armenians. Calm down. If this was about the Mexican Mafia would you be as offended? I get the Armenian community is very tight knit and came to America to escape tyranny and genocide but for the live of God don’t be so critical of a news source reporting on a criminal. Be mad at the guy who is giving you a bad name not the news source.
This is the most absurd and insulting string of comments we’ve seen in a while. Here in Santa Clarita we have had people who are ethnically Armenian in all walks of life, from business owners and property owners to law enforcement, and we report on them all the time. We don’t see any comments from you when we do that. And we must really hate ourselves, since we report on about 100,000 criminal white, black and Latino guys for every 1 who happens to be Armenian (which is an ethnicity, not a race).
To me, the modern spirit of an American is a person who is unrelentingly independent, aware, critical, generous, intelligent. Americans are engineers, gadgeteers, inventors, and capitalists (in the best sense of the word capitalist). Americans question their government, their corporations, and their education. Americans are not afraid to stand defiantly against the cattle who call themselves American. True Americans see war for what it is; They see mass entertainment for what it is; watered down advertising and brainwashing. Unfortunately, there are not many Americans in America. Your spirit makes you an American, not your background
I assume lack of American history and pride made you post this on Veteran’s day..
What in the hell are you talking about, Veronica? Your post makes no sense.
100%. As an American with Armenian roots seeing this story doesn’t make me feel singled out at all. Those who want to find an issue to complain about, will find a way to do so. Basic reading comprehension would have been nice.
^daym.
Here is the original press release from the FBI. If you have a problem with it, you might want to go to the source (call the number below) ……………….
Armenian Power Leader Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison for Racketeering, Extortion, and Fraud Offenses
U.S. Department of Justice November 10, 2014
Office of Public Affairs (202) 514-2007/TDD (202) 514-1888
WASHINGTON—A leader of the Armenian Power gang, who was convicted at trial of 57 counts for his role in a racketeering conspiracy that included extortion, bank fraud, and a sophisticated credit and debit card skimming scheme, was sentenced today to 32 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Yonekura of the Central District of California made the announcement.
Mher Darbinyan, aka “Hollywood Mike” and “Capone,” 39, of Valencia, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner of the Central District of California.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Darbinyan was a leader of Armenian Power, a gang responsible for extortion, firearms offenses, fraud, and identity theft throughout the Los Angeles-area. Among other activities, Darbinyan operated a sophisticated bank fraud scheme that used middlemen and runners to deposit and cash hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks drawn on the accounts of elderly bank customers and businesses. Separately, Darbinyan also organized and operated a sophisticated debit card skimming operation targeting customers of 99 Cents Only Stores across Southern California. This expansive scheme involved the installation and use of skimmers to steal thousands of customers’ debit card numbers and PIN codes.
Evidence at trial also showed that Darbinyan conspired to extort money from a member of the Armenian community by threatening violence against the victim and his family members. On two separate occasions, Darbinyan also possessed firearms and ammunition after having previously been convicted of felony grand theft for his role in a 2004 debit card fraud scheme.
Darbinyan was among 90 individuals charged in 2011 in two indictments targeting Armenian Power. To date, 87 individuals have been convicted. Two defendants are fugitives, and prosecutors dismissed charges against one defendant.
According to evidence presented during the Armenian Power trials, the Armenian Power street gang formed in the East Hollywood district of Los Angeles in the 1980s. The gang’s membership consisted primarily of individuals of Armenian descent, as well as of other countries within the former Soviet bloc. Armenian Power has been designated under California state law as a criminal street gang and is believed to have more than 250 documented members, as well as hundreds of associates. According to evidence presented during the Armenian Power trials, Armenian Power members and associates regularly carry out violent criminal acts, including murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, robberies, extortions, and witness intimidation to enrich its members and associates and preserve and enhance the power of the criminal enterprise.
The trial evidence also showed that Armenian Power leaders worked closely with powerful organized crime figures in Russia and Armenia, known as “thieves-in-law,” and members of the Mexican Mafia prison gang to commit criminal activities in the Los Angeles area and elsewhere.
These cases were investigated by the Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force, which is comprised of the FBI, Glendale Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Burbank Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Secret Service. The Huntington Beach Police Department and Beverly Hills Police Department provided assistance.
The cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Andrew Creighton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yang of the Central District of California.
seriously 32 years over money is kinda sad, they don’t even give child molesters anywhere near that
“And we must really hate ourselves, since we report on about 100,000 criminal white, black and Latino guys for every 1 who happens to be Armenian (which is an ethnicity, not a race).”
So… Armenians don’t belong to any of “you” ??? Whites Latinos Blacks??? Pathetic
they are used to pin pointing diffrent ethnical groups, appreantaly, it is their usuall act ..
Sam, you have a serious problem, brother. No matter what SCVTV does to intelligently explain you find something in it thay offends you. You are borrowing trouble in this case. I am sure you have been discriminated against in your life plenty of times, and that sucks. But that is not the case here. Read and comprehend more carefully before you label everyone that disagrees with you racist. Sorta makes you no better than the racists you are complaining about.
Ok more simple you report good then bad good then bad good then again bad or… You report good good bad good good bad . And that shows people that there is good and bad in Armenian community. But when you report bad bad more bad again bad terrible terrible … Then that’s all that people know about the Armenian community. This will be the last thing i write on here hopefully there won’t be any more harassment
I assume lack of American history and pride, made you post this on Veteran’s day… A true statement “Your spirit has to be any American and not your background.. “
To the Armenian comment contributors, you shouldn’t be upset at the article or the news. You should be PISSED at those of your culture who CONTINUE to give the rest of you good people a “black eye”. The truth is, as sad as it may be, this is what the majority of people think when they hear, “Armenian”. I live in Glendale, I was born in Glendale, long before it became a destination for Armenians. I have WONDERFUL, AWESOME, Armenian friends. And I feel for them. Because they get thrown in to “lump” of those who are, quite frankly, aholes. So, to you fine people, I say speak up to your fellow countrymen when you see bs behavior, and let them know that they’re destroying your “name” , “heritage”, and everything your ancestors fought for.
^RESPECT
I would like to add the fact,
we all live in a modern age to be civilized enough not to accept any private entities to continuously disrespect different ethic groups..
anyway, A thief stilling from a bigger thief … What’s so surprising in this corrupted system…
there is a very fine line in humanity between a “human being ” and “being human”..
Hi Veronica. I am a person who doesn’t care where someone is from or what skin color they may have. I have ONLY a few expectations of people: 1. Be polite! 2. Be respectful. 3. Be courteous towards others. Which includes obeying laws and the personal property of others. Do those things and I have no issues. Anyway, I know LOTS of beautiful Armenian people who I interact with and respect. We are all human beings and we need to remember, no matter where we’re from we all desire the same things in life. It’s ok to a measure of cultural pride, but when we think we’re better than someone else, that’s a huge problem! Remember, PRIDE is humanities enemy!
Hi Veronica. I am a person who doesn’t care where someone is from or what skin color they may have. I have ONLY a few expectations of people: 1. Be polite! 2. Be respectful. 3. Be courteous towards others. Which includes obeying laws and the personal property of others. Do those things and I have no issues. Anyway, I know LOTS of beautiful Armenian people who I interact with and respect. We are all human beings and we need to remember, no matter where we’re from we all desire the same things in life. It’s ok to a measure of cultural pride, but when we think we’re better than someone else, that’s a huge problem! Remember, PRIDE is humanities enemy!
^ and when inner EGO becomes thier inner GOD..
Anna Villarreal show Sarkis
Robert do you really think that we are not pissed about the people who continue to give us a bad name??? I work in Glendale I spend most of my weekends here with my friends. I can only say one thing you can safely walk down the street with your kids and no one will point a gun at you for wearing a wrong color t-shirt. Armenians in general are peaceful openhearted simple people. And to my understanding we are also very smart we have great doctors, lawyers, engineers and it makes us very proud . Unfortunately some individuals use their intellectual abilities to take advantage of some financial institutions. Yes these are crimes that affect our economy, but these are not violent crimes. Go to Compton east, LA, Arleta and see what walking down the street is like.
And I’m thankful for that, Sam!
All of a sudden all of you are wise people. Worry about your own lives and making them better. I bet a lot of you lie, are bitter, hate others, cheat behind your spouse’s back, etc. No one cares about your opinions. They are lame to begin with and you are only burning yourself out because you are telling the world where your heart is at. Why don’t you pray for this individual instead?
Good job
Yikes!
There are criminals in every ethnicity.
Meda is that you?
Omg Elizabeth Faten Ayyad
I feel left out. SCVTV, you never say anything good about white people either!!! You have not gone out of your way to promote my business, award my family for being long time residents of this valley….and, oh yeah, wipe my ass!
Get a grip, people! They are posting FACTUAL information that was provided by law enforcement. Whether this man was white, black, middle eastern or an alien from outer space doesn’t apply. What does apply is that he committed various crimes under a gang affiliation! Frankly, the only bigotry I see from this thread is coming from the Armenians themselves.
That was a great sentence
You all are so uptight!! Geez man! Scvtv is just posting what the facts are!!! Lmao
Megan MacKelvie #donttrustanarmo
Would be cheaper to deport people than to hold them in jail for 32 years
Andrew Khachatourian
Hahaha Chase Garcia I was about to do the same thing g when I saw this
Adina check this out
This is an embarrassment to all Armenians and the Armenian community. Quit complaining about when the article was published. The fact of the matter is this is the truth and instead of being upset with SCV TV for reporting it we should be realizing that there is bad in every group minority or majority. Take it with a grain of salt. And for all the ignorant people not every two individuals are the same so do not over generalize your theories!
I am sick of the Russian mafia too. Glad to see some of these guys caught.
Deanna Michelle Gonzalez
I don’t care what ethnicity you are. If you steal huge amounts and kill then we have a wonderful cell with your name on it.
Lots of bad news up in here. Sometimes good people get messed up in bad things. Everything posted about this guy is bad. Not everything about this guy was bad. There are allot of people that this guy helped out (non criminals) charities friends etc. but of course you don’t get to read about any of those things. Unless of course someone stands up, mentions it, and braves the bashing.
I wonder what happened to this?
Wonder if anyone even remembers this?
what’s the update? I know I’m 4 years late. But, came across this just now and was wondering.
whatever happened to this?