DOJ Charges 13 in $83M Armenian Amazon Cargo Theft, Attempted Murder

Thirteen individuals linked to Armenian organized crime syndicates, affiliated with the Russian mafia, were arrested in California and Florida for stealing over $83 million in Amazon cargo through a scheme involving fraudulent trucking contracts. The suspects, including rival leaders Ara Artuni and Robert Amiryan, enrolled as Amazon carriers and diverted shipments to resell or distribute stolen goods, while also engaging in additional crimes such as bank and wire fraud. The two rivals have been embroiled in a violent feud since 2022, involving attempted murder, kidnapping, and torture as part of their struggle for control of the San Fernando Valley territory. Authorities found extensive evidence of stolen merchandise in warehouses, highlighting the scale of the operations. Amazon has stated a zero-tolerance policy toward organized retail crime and is actively working with law enforcement to dismantle these networks. This case underscores broader challenges retailers face with cargo theft, which experts estimate causes nearly $1 billion in annual losses nationwide.