3 Suspected of Selling Fake Smog Certificates
Owners of two San Fernando Valley auto repair shops were arrested Tuesday on charges of selling vehicle smog certificates without conducting inspections, state authorities said.
The arrests were the result of a three-month investigation, said Jim Schoning, chief of the state Bureau of Automotive Repair.
Authorities arrested Nadi Golian, 43, owner of Car Care Service, 6305 Colfax Ave. in North Hollywood, and his technician, George Karlozian, 52, and in a separate case, Yerchanik Bedrosian, 34, of Kim’s Auto Service, 7776 Foothill Blvd. in Tujunga, Schoning said.
Golian and Karlozian each face 16 felony charges stemming from the alleged sale of four smog certificates at $60 each to state investigators without inspection of the vehicles, Schoning said. Charges include forgery, perjury and forging registration certificates. The two men face maximum sentences of 56 years and fines of up to $40,000 each if found guilty.
Bedrosian faces 13 charges, including conspiracy, forgery, perjury and forgery for selling fake certificates to a third party. If convicted of all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 50 years and up to $30,000 in fines.
Bail has been set at $250,000 for each of the three suspects.
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