California real estate agent Tamara Dadyan and her family are set to spend ten years behind bars over an 18 million dollar covid loan fraud.
Dadyan was one of eight conspirators convicted in December 2021 for the scam. The crime ring was led by her brother-in-law Richard Ayvazyan and his wife Marietta Terabelian.
The couple is currently on the run and have cut off their ankle bracelets. Officials are offering a $20,000 reward for the couple.
Tamara Dadyan has also fled from officials. She was set to begin serving a week ago.
As part of the covid loan fraud, the family used IDs of the deceased and the elderly for up to 150 government loans.
FBI special agent Ryan Heaton spoke with KTLA5 saying the money was used for luxury items, trips and… cash withdrawals.
The attorney for Tamara Dadyan also spoke out saying that he had not heard from her and is not aware of her where abouts.
He added that he had not seen her since the last time they spoke at his office on January 28. He also said the last time he saw her he believed that she was heading to turn herself in.
Richard Ayvazyan, 43, was sentenced to 17 years behind bars and his wife, 37-year-old Marietta Terabelian, received a six-year sentence in federal prison.
The judge also sentenced Ayvazyan’s brother, Artur, 41, to five years in prison.
Charges include aggravated identity theft, 11 counts of wire fraud, eight counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
During the sentencing, US District Judge Stephen V. Wilson said he could not recall a fraud case conducted in such a “callous, intentional way without any regard for the law.”
After Dadyan’s disappearance, the FBI Los Angeles Twitter page posted an image of her and described her as a fugitive.
“After failing to report to serve her 121 months, she is now a fugitive.
