COVID 19 Scam: Couple Vanish After Stealing $20 Million Pandemic Relief Fund

• Couple Richard Ayvazyan and Marietta Terabelian are on the run after masterminding a COVID 19 scam

• The two reportedly used the fake or stolen identities to submit fraudulent applications for 150 pandemic relief loans

• They were under arrest when they cut their electronic tracking bracelets and left their home, leaving their 3 children behind

Richard Ayvazyan and his wife, Marietta Terabelian have escaped from their California home after cutting off their electronic tracking bracelets.

The couple who left their 3 children behind were set to face prison time for their role in a COVID 19 relief funds fraud.

The FBI has disclosed that the husband and wife left a note for their three kids aged 13, 15, and 16, saying “We will be together again one day,”.

The FBI has announced that it is still searching for the couple three months after they escaped in August 2021.

According to prosecutors, Ayvazyan, his wife, and others carried out a COVID 19 scam aimed at stealing more than $20 million in relief funds designated to small businesses during the pandemic.

Both of them and Ayvazyan’s brother, Artur Ayvazyan, 41 were found guilty by the court of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in June.

Documents provided by prosecutors show that they used fake or stolen identities to submit fraudulent applications for about 150 federal pandemic relief loans.

Read also: Coinbase User Loses N6 Billion in Fake Notification Fraud

Court documents show that the funds were used to purchase mansions in three Southern California cities, diamonds, gold, and luxury watches.

Despite the couple being on the run, the Judge sentenced Ayvazyan, 43, and Terabelian, 37 to 17 and 6 years in prison respectively for the COVID 19 scam

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