Los Angeles Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Multi-State Bank Fraud Ring

Armani Ryan Purandah, 27, of Los Angeles, has been sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud. U.S. District Judge Angela Martinez also ordered Purandah to pay $1,188,008 in restitution to victims.

Purandah, who resided in New York until 2023 before moving to Los Angeles, was a key leader in a sophisticated bank fraud and identity theft operation. This scheme targeted individuals and financial institutions across multiple states, including Arizona, Colorado, and California.

The co-conspirators illegally obtained victims’ personal identifying information and used fraudulent identifications to establish phony business accounts. These accounts were then linked to the victims’ legitimate bank accounts, allowing the ring to transfer funds. The stolen money was subsequently withdrawn in cash from the phony accounts at banks and tribal casinos, with the proceeds delivered to Purandah or other supervisors. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office investigated the case, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.