LA-Area Man Among 2 Accused Of Defrauding 20,000 Card Holders

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Two California men were charged with swindling more than 20,000 American Express Card holders.

The U.S. Attorney in Sacramento announced Friday that 33-year-old Mihran Melkonyan and 39-year-old Androuslan Akhmerov were each charged with 23 counts of felony mail fraud.

The two are accused of establishing a fictitious business that appeared legitimate to siphon off small charges in the range of $15 to $30 from each of their alleged victims. Investigators said the pair are accused of keeping the charges low so customers wouldn't notice them and notify authorities.

Akhmerov of Los Angeles was arrested on March 5 and is free on bail. Melkonyan of Sacramento remains at large.

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