On July 15, 2020, Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigation Unit detectives, along with deputies from the North Area Substation, responded to a local pistachio and almond distribution center regarding subjects attempting to fraudulently pick up a shipment of pistachios valued at approximately $200,000. Deputies were advised the subjects were occupying a semi-truck and trailer and fled the area. Deputies located the semi-truck and trailer fleeing the area on the I-5 Freeway.
Arman Karapetyan, age 32 from Van Nuys, California and Manuk Aghajanyan, age 30 from Glendale, California, were occupying the semi-truck and trailer. During the investigation, Rural Crime Investigation Detectives determined the trailer was stolen. Detectives also discovered Karapetyan and Aghajanyan attempted to falsify their identity and employer to procure the shipment of pistachios.
Karapetyan and Aghajanyan were arrested and booked into jail for violation of PC 487H(A) grand theft cargo and PC 496D(A) Possession of a stolen vehicle.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness Line at 661-322-4040.
