FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2024

Housing Division: Peter Zovak
Email: PZovak@GlendaleCA.gov
Phone: (818) 548-3111

City Media Contact: Stephanie Mkhlian
Email: SMkhlian@GlendaleCA.gov
Phone: (818) 550-4424 

GLENDALE POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCAMS

GLENDALE, CA – The Glendale Police Department has arrested a suspect responsible for a series of scams perpetrated on vulnerable residents interested in affordable housing in Glendale. 

In April 2024, staff of the Glendale Housing Authority and the Glendale Police Department learned of a fraud scheme where Sima Karapetyan, age 47 of North Hollywood, approached elderly people at public aid offices and local non-profit support agencies while falsely presenting herself as an employee of the Glendale Housing Authority. She gained their trust and promised the victims access to low-income housing units and improved status on the Section 8 Housing Voucher waiting list in exchange for cash payments.

Detectives of the Glendale Police Department learned Karapetyan also used social media sources to attract more victims. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Karapetyan took money from at least 11 victims since 2021. 

On May 23, 2024, Financial Crimes Detectives of Glendale Police Department arrested Karapetyan. Karapetyan remains in custody on $450,000 bail.  

Kaparetyan was arraigned on 7 counts of Theft by False Pretense and 4 counts of Elder Abuse in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

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About Affordable Housing in Glendale 

The City of Glendale and Glendale Housing Authority actively pursues allegations of fraud. If you are approached by someone promising low-income housing assistance in any way in exchange for money, please ignore the request and report the activity to the Glendale Housing Fraud Hotline (818) 548-6442 or via email at section8fraud@glendaleca.gov.

If approached, please keep in mind the following advice:

DO NOT pay money in exchange for the promise of any kind of Section 8 or low-income housing.

DO NOT release personal financial information to strangers promising to provide low-income housing.

DO NOT believe that low-income housing assistance can be purchased on the street from strangers.

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About the Glendale Housing Authority

The Glendale Housing Authority has supported the development of, over 1,200 units of affordable housing for both low-income renters and homeowners since its inception in 1975. Currently, the Housing Authority has four projects totaling 575 affordable housing units in construction.   These housing projects provide new affordable rental housing for seniors, families, and special needs populations, as well as home ownership opportunities for first time home buyers.

For those interested in future affordable housing opportunities, please visit the City of Glendale Community Development Department web page at Glendale Affordable Housing and sign up to be placed on the City’s Affordable Housing Interest List.  When future opportunities for affordable housing become available, you will be sent information as to how to qualify and apply for these projects.  This is a FREE service.  

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About the Glendale Police Department

Established in 1906, the Glendale Police Department is a full-service police department with approximately 250 sworn officers, and nearly 400 total employees. The Glendale Police Department is committed to providing the highest level of public safety services through proactive policing, professionalism, and community partnerships.

Assignments include Patrol, Traffic, Investigations Bureau, Narcotics, SWAT, Motorcycles, K-9, School Resource Officer, Custody, Dispatch, and Air Support. Police Department responsibilities include 9-1-1 emergency response, proactive law enforcement, traffic enforcement and collision investigation, crime investigation and case preparation, community and school policing, and administration of the city jail facility.

For more information, visit GlendaleCA.gov/Police or follow @GlendalePoliceDept on Instagram and @GlendalePD on Facebook and X.