At this stage in the pandemic most people probably know somebody who told somebody that trying to con people or agencies out of COVID-19 relief money or unemployment funds probably isn’t a good idea. Richard Ayvazyan and his wife, Marietta Terabelian apparently didn’t get that message. According to CNN, both are on the run for charges alleging that they swiped more than $20m in COVID-19 relief funds.
The two have since been convicted in absentia. According to reports,, one is facing upwards of 6 years and the other is facing upwards of 17 years for their parts in the massive multi-state fraud scheme. Neither of the two has been seen a single time since about late August. Prosecutors also allege that the two left their children a typewritten note telling them that this “wasn’t goodbye until we meet again.”
“The defendants used the COVID-19 crisis to steal millions of dollars in much-needed government aid intended for people and businesses suffering from the economic effects of the worst pandemic in a century,” said US Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison.
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