OXNARD : 2 to Be Arraigned on Loan Shark Charges

Two workers at an Oxnard car dealership who are accused of loan sharking and perjury are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, prosecutors said.

The Ventura County grand jury indicted Shahin Pak Azarmehr, 29, and Andrew Harris Weber, 25, on April 12. The indictment accuses the men of operating a loan sharking business out of the Autopawn car dealership in Oxnard.

The two are accused of charging illegally high interest, which in some cases exceeded 500%, on automobiles pawned at the dealership, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Schwartz said.

“They called the charges storage fees,” Schwartz said. “We contend that it was interest.”

Only financial institutions and licensed pawn shops can charge in excess of 10% on loans, Schwartz said.

Autopawn is owned by Atlantic Financial, of which Azarmehr’s father is president.

In addition, the indictment accuses Azarmehr, Orlando Daniel Baldizon, 43, and John Edward Line, 28, of falsifying smog inspection documents.

Line is an employee of George’s Auto Center in Rosemead, and Baldizon used to work there. The two mechanics are accused of signing smog inspections on cars sold at Autopawn without actually inspecting the vehicles.

Arraignment for Azarmehr, Weber and Line was set for Thursday while an arrest warrant has been issued for Baldizon.

Azarmehr posted $5,000 bail, while Weber and Line were released on their own recognizance.