A Burbank man has pleaded guilty to operating an illegal firearms business and distributing methamphetamine from his downtown Los Angeles hookah lounge, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Hovik Dagesian, 42, admitted to running the operation from October 2020 to January 2021. According to his plea agreement, Dagesian illegally sold 11 firearms, including some without serial numbers—commonly referred to as "ghost guns"—and sold methamphetamine to a buyer on October 30, 2020. The transactions, which involved $34,250 worth of firearms and methamphetamine, took place at Dagesian's downtown LA hookah lounge.
Among the firearms Dagesian sold were a 12-gauge shotgun, an unserialized AR-15-type rifle, and a 9mm handgun. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Dagesian's business in January 2021. The search resulted in the seizure of 163.3 grams (5.8 ounces) of methamphetamine, a digital scale, approximately 215 rounds of ammunition, and several firearms he was willing to sell, including a sawed-off shotgun.
Dagesian was neither licensed as a dealer nor registered as a manufacturer or importer of firearms. His downfall did not come to light until law enforcement officials investigated his hookah business. Dagesian pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, yesterday.
Dagesian awaits his January 8, 2024, sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the drug distribution count. The illegal firearms dealing count carries a penalty of up to five years in federal prison.
