A 23-year-old Russian immigrant arrested last year in connection with a Tucson police investigation of alleged Russian mafia-backed pawn shops was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months probation.
Gurgen Karan Arakelov pleaded guilty Jan. 28 to facilitating the trafficking of stolen goods. He admitted to purchasing two cases of vodka from undercover Tucson police officers, after being told it was stolen.
“It was very stupid, very irresponsible of me,” Arakelov told Pima County Superior Court Judge Frank Dawley.
Arakelov and four others were arrested Nov. 4 following a six-month investigation by Tucson police, who believed people with ties to organized crime had opened pawn shops in Tucson that were being used as fronts to traffic stolen property.
The Tucson operation was closely tied to a pawn shop in Phoenix that was also operated by Russian immigrants, Tucson police said.
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As part of his probation, Dawley told Arakelov he must seek employment that is not associated with his family’s business, which involves purchasing vehicles for resale at auctions.
“You have a very supportive family, but one that can be taken advantage of,” Dawley said, calling Arakelov someone who has been slow to mature. “Right now I see someone who’s playing fast and loose.”
The other men — including 34-year-old Tucson resident Edgar Feldman — were indicted in Maricopa County by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Chief Criminal Deputy Pima County Attorney David Berkman said.
Each is awaiting a June 22 trial on drug and stolen property trafficking charges, according to the Maricopa County Superior Court Web site.
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