Overview

Three individuals from Los Angeles County have been convicted for their involvement in an unusual insurance fraud scheme that included dressing up as a bear and vandalizing luxury vehicles. The defendants, Alfiya Zuckerman, Ruben Tamrazian, and Vahe Muradkhanyan, pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud and have been sentenced to serve time in a weekend jail program.

The scheme involved submitting fraudulent insurance claims that resulted in significant financial losses for the insurance companies. The California Department of Insurance has emphasized the seriousness of insurance fraud and the importance of accountability.

Key details

  • Defendants: Alfiya Zuckerman (39), Ruben Tamrazian (26), Vahe Muradkhanyan (32).
  • Conviction: All three pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud.
  • Sentencing: 180 days in jail, to be served on weekends.
  • Probation: Two years of supervised probation for each defendant.
  • Restitution: Zuckerman and Tamrazian ordered to pay nearly $108,000; Muradkhanyan's restitution amount is yet to be determined.
  • Fourth suspect: Ararat Chirkinian (39) has a court date scheduled for September 2026.
  • Fraudulent claims: The group submitted claims in 2024 totaling $141,839.
  • Evidence: Video footage showed a supposed bear damaging luxury vehicles, including a 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost, a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG, and a 2022 Mercedes E350.
  • Investigation: The case was investigated under the operation named