Two more indicted in credit card case

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 11:54 a.m.

Two more men allegedly associated with a major credit card fraud ring were indicted Tuesday on charges of conspiring to use stolen credit cards and fake driver's licenses to withdraw cash at an area casino.

The indictment connects Anca Morari Soni, 25, of Las Vegas and Vardan Gasparyan, 32, of North Hollywood, Calif., with Armenoui Garibian, 42, of Las Vegas. Garibian is one of 21 men indicted last month on federal racketeering and fraud charges for his alleged participation in a Romanian crime ring that used stolen credit cards to get cash advances at casinos in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City, authorities said.

Authorities allege that members of two affiliated organizations would steal credit cards from vehicles, gym lockers and other locations and transport them to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. They would then make fake driver's licenses and use the credit cards to steal cash advances from casinos or ATM machines.

Working in teams, members in the crime ring would quickly travel from casino to casino charging multiple cash advances, authorities allege.

Law enforcement authorities stopped Soni and Gasparyan with Garibian at the Rio in June 2002 after Garibian allegedly had charged a cash advance of $2,800 on a stolen Discover Card and made a purchase at the gift shop.

Authorities found several stolen credit cards, fake driver's licenses with Garibian's picture and $5,200 cash on Soni, according to the indictment. Gasparyan also had two stolen credit cards and a fake driver's license with Garibian's picture on it.

Soni and Gasparyan are each charged with conspiring to conduct transactions with unauthorized credit cards, possession of more than 15 unauthorized credit cards and possession of more than five false identifications. A summons was issued for Soni to appear in court June 18, and an arrest warrant was issued for Gasparyan.

Garibian and fellow Southern Nevada co-defendants Florin Iancu, 34; his brother, Mihai Iancu, 27; and Claudiu Dimitru Moisa were still at large.