Lawyer charged in claimed attempt to extort $2M from businessman pleads not guilty
A California lawyer accused of trying to extort $2 million in exchange for an agreement to suppress testimony in a shooting case has pleaded not guilty.
Attorney Armen Tashjian represented two of three victims of a nonfatal 2014 shooting at a Los Angeles business. He is charged with attempted extortion and conspiracy counts. Prosecutors say he asked the brother of a possible shooter to pay $2 million prior to the resolution of that criminal case, according to the Los Angeles Times (sub. req.).
An earlier Los Angeles Times story notes that details of the shooting are disputed.
In December, a judge convicted Akop “Jack” Torosian of possessing a deadly weapon with the intent to commit assault and gave him three years of probation. Torosian is the owner of a bakery in suburban Los Angeles. His brother was allegedly approached by Tashjian with the claimed $2 million offer. No one else was charged in connection with the 2014 shooting.
Attorney Mark Brandt represents Tashjian. He could not immediately be reached by the newspaper for comment.
However, Tashjian himself earlier told the Times in an email, “Please know I will defend myself to the fullest.” At that time he said he had not yet seen the charges against him and hence could not comment specifically.
