'''Armen "Pzo" Kazarian''' was a high-ranking member of [[Armenian]] organized crime, which operated primarily in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="usdeptjst">{{cite web |title=US Department of Justice Indicments |url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nys/pressreleases/October12/MirzoyanDavitPleaPR/Kazarian,%20Armen%20et%20al%20Indictment.pdf |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref> He gained notoriety for his involvement in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and identity theft. Kazarian became the first known [[Thief in law|Vor]] to be convicted of rackteering. <ref name="usdeptjst">{{cite web |title=US Department of Justice Indicments |url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nys/pressreleases/October12/MirzoyanDavitPleaPR/Kazarian,%20Armen%20et%20al%20Indictment.pdf |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref> <ref name="fbigov">{{cite web |title=Leader of Armenian Organized Crime Ring Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Racketeering |url=https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/newyork/press-releases/2011/leader-of-armenian-organized-crime-ring-pleads-guilty-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-racketeering |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>
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In 2011, Kazarian was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to racketeering, bank fraud, and identity theft. His case received significant media attention due to the scope of the crimes and the involvement of Armenian Power in organized crime activities in Southern [[California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Armenian gangsters charged in $160M Medicare scam |url=https://nypost.com/2010/10/14/armenian-gangsters-charged-in-160m-medicare-scam/ |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref> U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara was quoted saying about the crimes Kazarian and his associates committed, "puts the traditional Mafia to shame,".<ref name="cbsnews">{{cite web |title=Armen Kazarian Charged in $163M Medicare Fraud Scheme |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/armen-kazarian-charged-in-163m-medicare-fraud-scheme/ |website=CBS News |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “International organized crime has emerged as one of the most serious law enforcement problems of the 21st century. It is a problem that this office—and the Department of Justice as a whole—is committed to rooting out. Today, crime boss Armen Kazarian becomes the first known “Vor” to have been convicted of racketeering, but he will not be the last. His guilty plea should send a strong message to international gangsters all over the world that if you commit crimes in this country, we will find you, and we will prosecute you with the full force of the law.”<ref name="fbigov">{{cite web |title=Leader of Armenian Organized Crime Ring Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Racketeering |url=https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/newyork/press-releases/2011/leader-of-armenian-organized-crime-ring-pleads-guilty-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-racketeering |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>