An Armenian Power gang associate was sentenced today to six years in federal prison for his part in a debit card skimming operation targeting thousands of customers of 99 Cents Only stores across the Southland.
Rafael Parsadanyan, 30, of Los Angeles was also ordered by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner to serve five years of supervised release after getting out of prison.
The judge set a Dec. 1 restitution hearing for Parsadanyan, who helped coordinate the scheme from his cellular telephone business in Glendale.
“He seems to be a law-abiding citizen — apart from this,” Klausner said.
Parsadanyan was convicted in April of 14 counts of bank fraud. Evidence showed that he helped American Power leader Mher “Capone” Darbinyan run the card-skimming operation by collecting and storing the money and delivering a payment of nearly $34,000 to a co-schemer.
The scheme involved installation of skimmers in stores in Riverside, Whittier, Huntington Beach, San Diego and elsewhere that were used to steal customers’ debit card numbers and pin codes.
Darbinyan and gang co-leader Arman “Horse” Sharopetrosian were also convicted in April of racketeering conspiracy and extortion, as well as a slew of related charges.
Federal prosecutors indicted 90 people three years ago for a range of criminal activities associated with the Armenian Power gang. All but five have been convicted.