Junior Rasmussen
Wedding grifters have been arrested in several cases, including the arrest of Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan, who allegedly stole $60,000 in cash and checks from a wedding in Glendale, California. In another instance, Kristina Dardo was arrested in Georgia for attempting to steal gift cards from a wedding reception. These incidents highlight the unfortunate trend of wedding grifters targeting celebrations to commit theft, often ruining what should be a joyous occasion for the newlyweds and their guests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | California |
| Date | 2025-09-06 |
| Suspects | Armean Shirehjini, Andranik Avetisyan |
| Suspects' Age | 41, 37 |
| Suspects' Gender | Male |
| Suspects' Possession | Handgun, Narcotics, Firearms |
| Amount Stolen | $60,000 |
| Type of Crime | Theft, Burglary, Drug Sales, Illegal Weapons Possession |
| Suspects' Status | Arrested |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding crashers arrested for stealing $60,000 in California
Wedding days are supposed to be one of the happiest days of a couple's life together, but for one couple in California, it turned into a nightmare. Armean Shirehjini, 41, and Andranik Avetisyan, 37, were arrested for allegedly stealing $60,000 in cash, cheques, and gifts from newlyweds Nadeen and George Farahat during their wedding reception.
The theft occurred at the Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale, California, on August 31. The suspects were arrested just five days after the couple said "I do". Shirehjini was identified as the man who grabbed the gift box containing the money and ran out to a waiting SUV, while Avetisyan was the alleged getaway driver.
"I ended up sitting on the dance floor, sobbing with my friends and cousins around me," said the bride, Nadeen. "We had a wonderful ceremony at our church. We had a really fun party with our family and friends, and we were able to celebrate up until the incident," added the groom, George.
Police recovered a large amount of cash, dozens of cheques made out to the victims, several firearms, and narcotics from the suspects' homes. Shirehjini was found to be in possession of a handgun when he was arrested. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
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Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan arrested
Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan were arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary, drug sales, and illegal weapons possession. The two men were suspected of crashing a wedding and stealing a gift box containing about $60,000 in cash and checks from the Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale, California.
Shirehjini, 41, was identified as the prime suspect who stole the gift box, while Avetisyan, 37, was the alleged getaway driver. The theft was captured on security cameras inside the banquet hall, which helped police identify and track down the suspects within five days of the wedding. During their arrests, Shirehjini was found to be in possession of a handgun, and several firearms and various narcotics were seized from both of their residences.
The newlywed couple, Nadeem and George Farahat, expressed their emotional distress over the incident but were thankful that everyone was safe. Police recovered a large amount of cash and dozens of checks made out to the victims from the wedding during the arrests. They also found several firearms and narcotics at the residences of both suspects.
The two suspects were held at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles on the afternoon of Monday, 6 September 2025.
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Shirehjini was the prime suspect
Armean Shirehjini was the prime suspect in the theft of about $60,000 in cash and checks from a wedding in Southern California. The brazen heist, which left the bride and groom distraught, took place at the Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale.
Shirehjini, 41, was arrested on Friday night, just five days after the couple said "I do." He was found to be in possession of a handgun, and several firearms and narcotics were seized from his residence. Police also recovered a large amount of cash and dozens of checks made out to the victims from the wedding.
Shirehjini was identified as the main suspect through surveillance footage, which showed him carrying the gift box to a black Mercedes-Benz SUV waiting in an alley outside the banquet hall. His face was clearly visible in the video, which helped police track him down within five days of the wedding.
During their investigation, police also discovered that Shirehjini had a large number of drugs and guns in his possession. They are looking into whether the firearms were purchased legally and are also investigating the drugs and what appear to be fake IDs that were recovered.
Shirehjini was booked on suspicion of burglary, drug sales, and illegal weapons possession.
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Avetisyan was the getaway driver
Andranik Avetisyan was the alleged getaway driver in the California wedding heist that left a couple devastated. Avetisyan was arrested alongside Armean Shirehjini, the prime suspect, who was found to be in possession of a handgun when arrested. Avetisyan and Shirehjini were booked on suspicion of burglary, drug sales, and illegal weapons possession.
The pair allegedly stole a gift box containing about $60,000 in cash and checks from a banquet hall reception in Glendale, California. The theft occurred during the wedding reception of newlyweds Nadeen and George Farahat on August 31 at the Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale. The man, later identified as Shirehjini, entered the banquet hall and blended in with the wedding guests before grabbing the box and escaping in a waiting SUV.
Avetisyan's role as the getaway driver was crucial to the success of the heist. He waited in the SUV while Shirehjini grabbed the box and then drove them away from the scene. During the arrest, detectives recovered a large amount of cash, dozens of checks, and several firearms and narcotics from both Avetisyan and Shirehjini's residences.
The investigation into the wedding heist is still ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the Glendale Police Burglary Detectives. The couple, Nadeen and George Farahat, are focusing on the positive memories of their wedding day and are thankful that everyone was safe despite the upsetting theft.
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Previous wedding grifters: Kristina Dardo arrested in 2018
Wedding grifters are people who crash weddings and steal gifts meant for the newlyweds. In 2025, a pair of wedding grifters, Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan, were arrested in California for stealing $60,000 in cash, checks, and gifts from a couple during their wedding reception. Shirehjini was identified as the prime suspect and Avetisyan as the getaway driver.
Previously, in 2018, another wedding grifter, 32-year-old Kristina Dardo, was arrested in Georgia for a similar crime. Dardo was caught by wedding planner Ashley Baber, who noticed her acting suspiciously and found 15 gift cards worth $2,300 in her possession. Dardo was charged with felony theft and sent to Fulton County Jail.
Wedding grifters often take advantage of the busy and chaotic nature of weddings, with many guests, organizers, and caterers present, to steal gifts without being noticed. It is recommended that gifts intended for the bride and groom are mailed or given directly to a trusted individual to reduce the risk of theft.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the wedding grifter has been arrested.
The wedding grifting incident took place in Glendale, California.
The wedding grifter has been identified as Armean Shirehjini, with Andranik Avetisyan as the alleged getaway driver.
Approximately $60,000 in cash and dozens of checks were stolen from a gift box at the wedding reception.
Shirehjini was sent to the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles. He was booked on suspicion of burglary, drug sales, and illegal weapons possession.
