Crime & Safety
Pasadena Police Lieutenant Arrested In Arms Dealing Scheme
A Pasadena Police lieutenant faces 35 years if convicted of illegally selling 107 weapons.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Pasadena police lieutenant was arrested Friday on federal charges of selling dozens of guns without a license, making false statements during gun purchases and possessing an unregistered firearm.
Lt. Vasken Kenneth Gourdikian, 48, surrendered to federal authorities, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. A federal indictment unsealed Thursday accuses him of engaging in unlicensed sales of 107 weapons between March 2014 and February 2017.
He was also indicted for allegedly making false statements during two gun purchases, claiming he was the actual buyer of the weapons even though he had already agreed to sell them to someone else. He was also charged with being in possession of an unregistered, modified Sig Sauer model MPX 9mm short- barreled rifle.
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Gourdikian pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday afternoon. He was expected to be freed on $100,000 bail, and a trial date was tentatively set for April 24.
Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said Gourdikian has been on paid administrative leave from the department since Feb. 16, 2017. Federal agents raided his Sierra Madre home earlier that month and seized more than 60 firearms, including the Sig Sauer.
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The indictment alleges that Gourdikian repeatedly requested law- enforcement waivers of 10-day waiting periods for the purchase of weapons. It also contends that he engaged in the sale of "off roster" weapons, which can only be purchased by law enforcement officers or members of the military. The weapons can then be resold to the public.
Federal authorities contend that Gourdikian frequently advertised guns for sale on the Calguns.net website, often offering "off roster" weapons. But he was never "a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed dealer of firearms," according to the indictment.
"In these days of escalating gun violence, it is important to enforce our firearms laws vigorously," U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna said. "Those who sell guns illegally need to be held accountable, especially those who abuse a position of public trust."
Gourdikian faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of all counts, prosecutors said.
City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock
