Opinion ID: 766923
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Stolen Car and Auto Parts Conspiracy

Text: 4 This case stems from a multi-defendant scheme trafficking in stolen cars and auto parts. Participating in the scheme were, among others, defendants Vitaly Semenov, Ashot Mikayelyan, Sergey Ivanchikov, and Vasak Sarkisian. Starting at least as early as January 3, 1995, the defendants would regularly steal cars in and around Sacramento, California and bring them to an automobile repair shop operated by Mikayelyan. Some of the cars would then be taken apart and stripped for their parts. The remaining cars would undergo a VIN switch, whereby the car's vehicle identification number (VIN) would be replaced with that of another, salvaged car1 to disguise the stolen car's identity. 5 The scheme was headed by Mikayelyan, who owned the repair shop and directed much of the activity. The remaining participants were paid by Mikayelyan to steal cars and car parts, and to perform the VIN switches. 6 On April 12, 1996, police agents went to Mikayelyan's repair shop. When they arrived, they saw Ivanchikov exit the garage and leave. They then pulled up to the garage door, identified themselves, and asked for identification. Semenov ran out and was able to evade arrest. Inside the garage, agents found a dismantled red Honda with its VIN sticker removed, as well as many stolen car parts. The police arrested several participants found at the scene. 7 A short while after the raid, the police arrested Ivanchikov nearby at another repair shop. On Ivanchikov's person, officers found a business card for a storage rental room in a facility in Sacramento. The officers obtained the rental agreement from the facility manager and learned that it had been rented by Alex Bedrik, an unindicted co-conspirator in the car stealing scheme, on behalf of and in the name of his grandmother. Bedrik, Mikayelyan, and Ivanchikov were listed on the agreement as people authorized to access the storage room. Because Ivanchikov and Mikayelyan were on searchable state probation, the police did not obtain a search warrant before cutting the padlock off the gate of the storage room and searching its contents. Inside, officers found numerous car parts and evidence of tampering with identification labels.