| Nature of Incident: |
Identity Theft / EDD Fraud Suspects Arrested |
| Report Number: |
20-107581 |
| Location: |
1440 N. Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks |
| Date & Time: |
8-6-20 @ 1420 hours |
| Unit(s) Responsible: |
Thousand Oaks Police Department Patrol / East County Investigations Bureau
|
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
|
Age |
S-Karapet Gasparyan
S-Grigor Gasparyan |
Van Nuys
N. Hollywood |
39
18
|
| Narrative: |
Thousand Oaks deputies and detectives arrested two suspects who fraudulently withdrew over $164,000 dollars from multiple local ATM’s.
On 8-6-20, a citizen called 911 when she observed two people acting suspiciously at the Bank of America ATM, located at 1440 N. Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks deputies responded and conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle as it was leaving the area. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were identified as Grigor Gasparyan and Karapet Gasparyan. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies located two grocery bags full of cash and a large amount of Visa debit cards in other people’s names. Both subjects were subsequently arrested.
During a preliminary investigation, Financial Crimes Detectives from the Thousand Oaks Police Department determined the Visa debit cards were issued via the California Employment Development Department (EDD) for unemployment benefits. Detectives determined the suspects had been making large ATM withdrawals throughout the day from multiple locations with the EDD debit cards and the $164,000 were proceeds from the withdrawals. Detectives also determined the EDD debit cards the suspects had in their possession were obtained fraudulently by applying for benefits using identity theft information from multiple victims, all of whom live outside of the State of California.
The suspects were booked at the Ventura County Main Jail on identity theft, grand theft and conspiracy charges. Their bail was set at $500,000. The suspects are still in custody with a bail hearing set for 8-18-20.
Due to recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, California and many other states have seen a spike in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims filed with stolen identities, along with other fraud related to the CARES Act. If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft related to fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, report the fraud to local law enforcement, state unemployment insurance agencies, the IRS, credit bureaus, and your employer’s human resources department.
|
| Prepared by: |
Detective Paul Ferruzza |
|
| News Release Date: |
August 17, 2020 |
|
| Media Follow-Up Contact: |
Detective Paul Ferruzza (805) 494-8231
[email protected]
|
|
Approved by:
Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Denise Sliva
YES NO |
|
