Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating an FBI Agent

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Daniel Arushanov, 27, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to impersonating an officer or employee of the United States, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Feb. 11, Arushanov entered a Red Roof Inn in Sacramento and identified himself to the hotel clerk as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Arushanov claimed to be involved in an investigation into underage prostitution and demanded to see a guest list for the hotel. When asked to show his badge, Arushanov refused and instead told a hotel employee to call the FBI. Arushanov left after the hotel employee called the FBI to report the incident. One of the hotel employees later identified Arushanov as the individual who posed as an FBI agent. Arushanov was arrested for impersonating a peace officer.

“We depend on the cooperation of the public,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “It is essential that people trust us to be who we say we are. If contacted by the FBI, the public can always call their local FBI office or law enforcement agency to verify that contact as genuine. Please call 911 if you feel you are in danger.”

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is prosecuting the case.

Arushanov is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on June 15. Arushanov faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.