FBI - Los Angeles

A convicted murderer, whom law enforcement believes is an active member of the 18th Street gang while being paid with City of Los Angeles funds to work as a “Peace Ambassador,” was arrested Friday and charged in a federal criminal complaint him with illegally possessing two body armor plates near the city’s drug-and-crime-infested MacArthur Park.

Michael Angel Alvarez, 41, a.k.a. “Diablo,” of Westlake, was charged with possession of body armor by a violent felon. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Alvarez is a convicted gang murderer who represents himself as working for Healing Urban Barrios, a Lincoln Heights-based organization that contracted with the city for its Peace Ambassador program that is run in the city’s Council District 1, which includes MacArthur Park. He has represented himself as a member of that organization through clothing he wears.
Additional Details: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/18th-street-gang-member-who-was-paid-peace-ambassador-city-arrested-illegally

A South Los Angeles man was sentenced Friday to 308 months in federal prison for committing the armed robbery of an armored truck in Hawthorne on St. Valentine’s Day in 2022, a heist in which more than $166,000 in cash and customer checks were stolen and a firearm was discharged after the truck’s driver was held on the ground at gunpoint. Deneyvous Jayan Hobson, 39, of West Adams, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, who also ordered him to pay $166,640 in restitution. At the conclusion of a six-day trial in November 2024, a jury found Hobson guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Additional details: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/south-la-man-sentenced-more-25-years-federal-prison-st-valentines-day-armed-robbery

A Culver City restauranteur, Philip Frederick Camino, 46, who owns a hospitality company that has developed restaurants and hotels in California, Tennessee, and Kentucky, was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million in COVID-19 economic-relief loans. Camino, who pleaded guilty in August 2024, was also ordered to pay $4,365,667 in restitution. At the conclusion of today’s hearing, Camino was remanded into federal custody. Additional details: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/culver-city-restauranteur-sentenced-nearly-3-12-years-federal-prison-fraudulently

A Burbank man, Armen Muradyan, 60 was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison for evading the payment of more than $11.2 million in federal taxes by using a shill to illegally collect Medicare reimbursement payments made to his blood-testing company, and to fraudulently obtaining nearly $100,000 in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 business relief. Muradyan, who pleaded guilty in August 2025, was also ordered to pay $15,158,033 in restitution.
Additional details here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/blood-test-lab-owner-sentenced-more-4-years-federal-prison-using-shill-collect

Fraudsters engage in SIM swapping to steal digital currency using information found on social media. This includes personally identifying information or details about the victim’s digital currency accounts. Don't Be a Victim! Avoid posting personal data online, such as your mobile phone number, address, or other personal information.

Since 1935, the FBI's Law Enforcement Bulletin has highlighted the work and experiences of the FBI and our law enforcement partners. This month, learn how servant leadership can lead to positive outcomes for the leader, follower, team or workgroup, and overall organization. Read more at leb.fbi.gov.

Attention! Have you been the victim of any of the following crimes by the Iranian Government?

-Cyber Stalking / Harassment
-Physical Harassment / Assault
-Extortion / Blackmail

If so, you may be the victim of Transnational Repression by the Government of Iran.

The FBI is here to help you and protect you from these crimes.

To report your case and learn more, call FBI Los Angeles at 310-477-6565 or send us a letter with your contact information to:

FBI Los Angeles
11000 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024

To learn more about the FBI's role in combatting transnational repression, visit us here:
www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression

The FBI released a warning the public about Kali365—an emerging Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platform. Kali365, first seen in April 2026, enables cyber threat actors to obtain Microsoft 365 access tokens and bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) protocols without intercepting the user’s credentials. The platform allows less-skilled attackers access to AI-generated phishing lures, automated campaign templates, real-time targeted individual/entity tracking dashboards, and OAuth token capture capabilities.

Learn more about how the scam works and review recommendations on how to protect yourself here: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260521