UPDATE: FBI Cracks Down on Armenian Power Street Gang

The 4300 block of Stern Avenue in Sherman Oaks was sealed off Wednesday by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of a nationwide crackdown on the Armenian Power street gang, with suspected members being charged with a wide range of violent crimes.

Finally after more than 8 hours of waiting, a team of more than ten agents wearing flak jackets and wielding M-4 rifles rushed the rear of a building at 4333 Stern Avenue and arrested a man wearing a black shirt and black trousers.

"So far today, 74 people have been arrested on charges of kidnapping, extortion, bank fraud, and narcotics trafficking," said United States Attorney Andre Birotte at a news conference held at the Glendale Police Department.

"The organized crime group we are targeting is called Armenian Power, the people arrested today are named in two federal indictments that charge a total of 88 people all linked to Armenian Power which is commonly called AP," added Birotte.

"In one case a man was kidnapped and held for a ransom of $500,000," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer.

The Armenian Power gang is believed to have a presence in a number of East Valley communities, including North Hollywood, as well as parts of Hollywood and East Hollywood. There have been numerous shootings over the last year that have involved suspected Armenian street gangs in the North Hollywood area. Authorities said arrests related to this investigation happened Wednesday in Burbank, Glendale and East Hollywood, as well as in Miami and Denver.

In addition to the violent crimes, charges were brought for white-collar crimes such as identity theft, and credit card skimming that victimized hundreds of credit card-holders out of more than $2 million, according to the indictment.

At one point just before noon, FBI agents wearing body armor entered an apartment building at 4333 Stern Ave. in Sherman Oaks, then emerged ten minutes later with a middle aged woman and a teen age girl who were placed inside a car. They did not appear to be under arrest, but instead seemed to join the agents in waiting.

"We can't tell you what we are waiting for," said one of the agents at the barricade.

Everyone trying to enter the 4300 block of Stern Avenue was searched, and one woman was asked open the trunk of her car. An elderly man told the agents that he lived in the building where the stakeout was in force. He was allowed to go home, but was told to remain inside his apartment.

The 134-count racketeering indictment includes more than  45o overt criminal acts said Birotte.

"The indictments target a group that appears willing to do anything and everything illegal to make a profit," added the US Attorney.