Real Estate Broker, 2 Others Arrested on Complaint Charging Them with Fraudulently Selling $1.5 Million Home Owned by Victim

LOS ANGELES – A licensed real estate broker and two other defendants were arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging they fraudulently sold a $1.5 million Burbank house – whose owner had his home sold out from under him – by using the stolen identifies of that victim homeowner and that of a purported buyer to obtain a near-$1 million loan. The following defendants are expected to make their initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles: Glenis Cardona, 63, of Highland, a licensed real estate broker who operates an escrow business; Ivan Reyes, 50, of Van Nuys; and Arshak Akopyan, 46, a.k.a. “John Akopyan,” of Northridge. Law enforcement continues to search for defendant Basil Tikriti, 54, of Marina del Rey, who is at large. According to an affidavit filed on January 30 with the complaint, the defendants in late 2023 and January 2024 successfully executed the fraudulent sale of a $1.5 million home in Burbank, through which they secured approximately $975,000 in loan proceeds. To complete this transaction, they used the stolen identities of the victim homeowner and a purported buyer. Through her company – Golden Escrow, which has offices in Downey and Sherman Oaks – Cardona obtained a report to evaluate whether the Burbank property was encumbered with liens, such as legal judgments. The defendants also prepared fraudulent documents, including false identity cards, a purchase agreement, a grant deed, a deed of trust, and loan applications, and falsely notarized the deeds. These false documents and information were submitted to a lender who funded the loan. Cardona purported to represent the victim seller and the victim buyer – even though neither authorized the transaction – and controlled escrow. Tikriti used the victims’ stolen identities to impersonate both the victim seller and the victim buyer. Reyes and Akopyan acted as mortgage brokers and submitted fraudulent loan applications to solicit lenders to fund the illicit transaction. After the victim lenders deposited the funds in escrow, Cardona directed the funds to various third-party entities so the schemers could collect their fraudulently obtained money. The scheme’s victims include the owner of the Burbank house, who lost ownership of the home; the victim buyer, who became obligated to pay back the $975,000 mortgage; the lender, a mortgage lending business that unwittingly approved the funded the loan; and the title company, who unwittingly insured the transaction.