Mariam Gevorkova, 37, of Glendale, California, received her sentence in February 2023 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to manufacture or possess with intent to distribute marijuana. In addition to her prison term, she was ordered to pay over $2.5 million in restitution and will undergo five years of supervised release .
Between 2016 and 2018, Gevorkova and her co-conspirators executed a “bust-out” fraud scheme, opening numerous credit card accounts using stolen and fictitious identities. They made substantial purchases and payments, then falsely reported the transactions as unauthorized, leading banks to absorb the losses. The illicit funds were used to establish and operate at least two unlicensed marijuana grows and to finance the Corvallis Cannabis Club, a state-licensed dispensary in Corvallis, Oregon .
Investigations revealed that the group manipulated Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System by purchasing inexpensive, state-licensed marijuana and entering it into the system. They then replaced it with higher-priced, illegally grown cannabis for in-state sales and trafficked the licensed product across state lines for additional profit .
The operation came to light following a joint investigation by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and DEA, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies. In June 2018, federal agents raided the Corvallis Cannabis Club and associated grow sites, seizing over 1,400 marijuana plants and arresting Gevorkova along with eight accomplices .
This case underscores the complexities of regulating the cannabis industry and highlights the potential for exploitation within legal frameworks. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and integrity in the rapidly evolving landscape of legalized marijuana.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
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