Thirteen alleged members of Armenian crime rings have been arrested for a scheme that defrauded Amazon of $83 million worth of goods.

The operation: These individuals, rounded up in California and Florida, allegedly posed as trucking carriers for Amazon, then diverted routes to steal shipments.

• U.S. Attorney's Office detailed that the suspects faced various charges, including cargo theft, bank fraud, and wire fraud.
• The ringleader, Ara Artuni, is linked to the Armenian Organized Crime syndicate, a widespread and ruthless group.

Background: Artuni's group registered as official Amazon carriers, but while on delivery routes, they allegedly took off with the goods. This scheme reportedly netted them goods valued at $83 million, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release.

An ongoing power struggle between Artuni and Robert Amiryan, another local crime leader, heightened the violence, leading to attempted murder and kidnapping plots.

The cleanup: Federal agencies, along with local law enforcement, are actively working to dismantle this crime network. By the end of the operation, authorities seized cash, vehicles, and firearms tied to these criminals.

For now, those arrested await their initial court appearances, marking a significant development in combating organized crime's impact on commerce.