Seven Charged in Connection With Credit Card-Skimming Fraud Scheme

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that seven people were charged today by Indictment with conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Those charged are Hamlet Tantushyan, 35, of Glendale, CA; Verzh Movsisyan, 41, of Glendale, CA; Armen Sahakyan, 41, of Burbank, CA; David Daldumyan, 29, of Van Nuys, CA; Hrchya Gyulumyan, 39, of Sun Valley, CA; Gevush Gabrielyan, 27, of North Hollywood, CA; and Roman Gridjusko, 30, of Philadelphia, PA.

The sevenc  defendants were charged for their alleged involvement in a scheme to steal money from victims’ bank accounts by making fraudulent ATM withdrawals and money order purchases in multiple states with stolen debit card numbers. The victims’ debit card numbers were obtained by members of the scheme through illegally installed devices on gas station pumps, known as ‘skimmers’, that captured the victims’ debit card numbers and Personal Identification Numbers when they used their debit cards at gas stations to purchase gas.

“As alleged in the Indictment, this was a devious fraud utilizing technology to take advantage of victims who didn’t even see it coming,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “I want to thank the many agents and investigators who worked tirelessly to uncover this scheme and assist my Office in bringing today’s Indictment.”

If convicted Hamlet Tantushyan faces a maximum possible sentence of 187 years imprisonment and a $7,250,000 fine, defendant Vrezh Movsisyam faces a possible maximum sentence of 177 years imprisonment and a $6,000,000 fine, defendant Roman Gridjuski faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years imprisonment and a $750,000 fine, defendant Armen Sahakyan faces a maximum possible sentence of 155 years imprisonment and a $6,000,000 fine, defendant Davit Daldumyan faces a maximum possible sentence of 93 years imprisonment and a $4,250,000 fine, defendant Hrchyan Gyulumyan faces a maximum possible sentence of 79 years imprisonment and a $2,050,000 fine, and defendant Gevush Gabrielyan faces a possible maximum sentence of 71 years imprisonment and a $3,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Philadelphia Organized Crime Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Newark, Delaware Police Department, the Borough of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania Police Department, and the Bensalem, Pennsylvania Township Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney K.T. Newton.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.