GLENDALE POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCAMS

GLENDALE, CA – The Glendale Police Department has arrested a suspect responsible for a series of scams perpetrated on vulnerable residents interested in affordable housing in Glendale.  

 

In April 2024, staff of the Glendale Housing Authority and the Glendale Police Department learned of a fraud scheme where Sima Karapetyan, age 47 of North Hollywood, approached elderly people at public aid offices and local non-profit support agencies while falsely presenting herself as an employee of the Glendale Housing Authority. She gained their trust and promised the victims access to low-income housing units and improved status on the Section 8 Housing Voucher waiting list in exchange for cash payments. 

Detectives of the Glendale Police Department learned Karapetyan also used social media sources to attract more victims. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Karapetyan took money from at least 11 victims since 2021.  

On May 23, 2024, Financial Crimes Detectives of Glendale Police Department arrested Karapetyan. She remains in custody on $450,000 bail. 

Kaparetyan was arraigned on 7 counts of Theft by False Pretense and 4 counts.