Five individuals associated with the Vanowen Street Locos and Elmwood Rifa 13 gangs in the San Fernando Valley were arrested on federal criminal complaints. Four of those arrested are accused of participating in a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted an Armenian Organized Crime leader, but instead resulted in his significant other being shot and wounded in front of their two children earlier this year.
The defendants include Carlos Armando Ochoa Grimaldi, also known as “Spanky,” Christopher Ayala (“Hits”), Edir De La Cruz (“Temper”), Maria de Jesus Mares (“Mary Oceans”), and Jose de Jesus Gonzalez, Jr. (“Listo”). The first four face charges related to using interstate commerce facilities for murder-for-hire, while Gonzalez is charged separately with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. During searches connected to these arrests, authorities seized about five firearms, a silencer, firearm parts, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
All defendants are expected to appear this afternoon at the United States District Court in Los Angeles.
Court documents state that Armenian Organized Crime operates as a transnational group affiliated with both Russian Mafia and Mexican Mafia organizations. Since 2022, internal conflict between two local leaders—known as avtoritet—has led to violence including assaults, attempted murders, and kidnapping within Los Angeles County.
Robert Amiryan and Ara Artuni have been identified as rival avtoritets engaged in this power struggle. Both men are currently held on federal charges stemming from these disputes and are scheduled for trial in December 2025 and August 2026 respectively.
According to prosecutors, Artuni ordered multiple attempts on Amiryan’s life throughout 2023. In response, Amiryan allegedly conspired with others to kidnap and torture one of Artuni’s associates last June.
In early 2025, Grimaldi, Ayala, De La Cruz, and others began renewed efforts to kill Amiryan. On March 14 of this year, Grimaldi and Vahagn Stepanyan allegedly shot Amiryan’s significant other outside her home while she was accompanied by her children. Stepanyan is also currently facing federal racketeering charges.
Following the shooting incident, Mares reportedly contacted De La Cruz stating that the “job [was] done” and anticipated payment for acting as getaway driver. However, after learning that it was not Amiryan who had been shot but his partner instead, Mares received a reduced payment from Stepanyan.
Authorities remind the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court proceedings. If convicted on current charges each could face up to 20 years imprisonment under federal law.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the Los Angeles Police Department Major Crimes Division – Transnational Organized Crime Section; Burbank Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation; and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives.
Prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Kenneth R. Carbajal from the Major Crimes Section along with Tara B. Vavere from Asset Forfeiture & Recovery Section. The Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section provided additional support.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a national effort led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration networks as well as transnational criminal organizations across communities nationwide.
