7 admit involvement in cigarette scheme
By Jason Kandel, Staff Writer

dailynews.com
Article Published: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 – 12:00:00 AM PST

Seven Glendale men have pleaded guilty to federal charges of operating
a Russian-Armenian organized crime ring that smuggled nearly $9
million in contraband cigarettes from Virginia to Los Angeles.

The men entered their pleas Monday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke,
Va. The pleas cap a four-year investigation by federal, state and
local authorities.

“The message is — you cannot defraud state and federal governments
of taxes that are due,” said John Torres, the special agent in charge
of the Los Angeles Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives.

The men include: Vicken Djeredjian, 31; Akop “Jack” Chichyan, 33;
Mnatsakan “Mike” Grigorian, 39; Serob “Serb” Boyadzhyan, 36; Manvel
Iskandaryan, 47; Albert Asatryan, 47; and Azat Stephanyan, 22.

The 55-count indictment accused the men of purchasing more than 9,000
cases of untaxed cigarettes in Virginia worth about $18.6 million. They
then took them to California without paying taxes.

Chichyan and Grigorian pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge, and
Djeredjian pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of contraband
cigarettes. The remaining defendants pleaded guilty to possession
and transportation of untaxed cigarettes.

Each face up to five years in federal custody and a fine of between
$5,000 and $250,000. Sentencing is set for June.

Jason Kandel, (818) 713-3664 jason.kandel@dailynews.com