Police seek alleged gang boss

Jackson Bell

Police are asking for the public’s help finding a Glendale man who

investigators say is the alleged ringleader of a Russian-Armenian

organized crime syndicate that has been connected to a string of

burglaries of jewelry store and pawn-shops throughout Los Angeles

County.

Ara Karapetian, 42, of Glendale, is wanted on a $2-million arrest

warrant for his role in a pawn-shop burglary June 13 in Van Nuys,

said Rick Lutz, a Sheriff’s Department detective working out of the

Crescenta Valley Station.

Karapetian, who lives in the 3300 block of Barnes Circle near

Oakmont County Club, also has homes in Las Vegas, Armenia and the

United Arab Emirates, authorities said. He owns two clothing stores

and a money-transfer business that allows local Armenians to send

money to relatives in their home country, authorities said.

Police have been in contact with Karapetian through his attorney,

but he has refused to turn himself in, Lutz said.

“Through his attorney, we have pleaded for him to turn himself

in,” Lutz said. “But so far he has refused to do so.”

In early June, surveillance cameras recorded the crew allegedly

attempting to take a safe from a jewelry store in La Crescenta,

police said. After a multi-agency investigation, five men were

arrested June 13 for allegedly trying to steal another safe from a

Van Nuys pawn shop, Lutz said, adding that Karapetian left behind his

driver’s license.

The men arrested are Suren Melkonyan, 46, of Glendale; Ashot

Avoyan, 42, of Hollywood; Andranik Grigoryan, 29, of Van Nuys; Arsak

Grigoryan, 36, of North Hollywood; and John Nazarian, 32, of

Hollywood, authorities said.

Their preliminary hearing Monday in Los Angeles Criminal Court was

postponed to Sept. 9, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Ronald Goudy. They are

all being held in Los Angeles County Jail.

“They’ve been involved in welfare fraud, selling untaxed

cigarettes, tax evasion, burglary of jewelry stores -- they were

involved in many things,” Goudy said. “We’ve easily recovered over a

million dollars [in property].”

Karapetian’s adult son, Ghor Karapetian, has also been arrested on

suspicion of burglary, said Lutz, who was unable to give more

details.

Ara Karapetian is described as white with brown hair and brown

eyes. He is 5 feet 9 and weighs 200 pounds. Anyone with information

is asked to contact Lutz at 236-4015.