Ex-Member of Sheriff’s Celebrity Unit Indicted

A former member of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca’s special celebrity reserve unit and an alleged accomplice were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on suspicion of laundering about $225,000, the U.S. attorney announced.

Elie Abdalnour, 36, of San Dimas, a wealthy Baca supporter, had been sworn in last June and given a badge and a gun by the department. He is the second member of the celebrity reserve unit to be arrested this year. As a result of the arrests, the program was suspended last month.

Abdalnour and an associate, Jirair Tatarian, 29, of Anaheim, co-owner of an Orange County strip club, are accused of laundering money they allegedly thought came from proceeds from counterfeit clothing.

Undercover Anaheim police officers initiated the investigation, telling Abdalnour and Tatarian that they had access to increasingly large amounts from the sale of counterfeit apparel.

Abdalnour was introduced to the undercover investigators as the money launderer by Tatarian, authorities said.

“Using banking contacts that Abdalnour maintained in Beirut, Abdalnour and Tatarian agreed to launder money for undercover investigators,” according to a statement by the U.S. attorney. “During an eight-month period, Abdalnour and Tatarian laundered approximately $225,000, receiving a 10% commission for their services.”

Three months ago, sheriff’s officials suspended celebrity Reserve Deputy Scott Zacky, whose family owns Zacky Farms, after he was accused of brandishing a weapon at two people outside his Bel-Air home.

Baca set up the program in June for celebrities, executives, athletes and other notable community members to serve as his “kitchen cabinet.” But no well-known celebrities wanted to join. The unit included 20 or so little-known but influential individuals with an interest in law enforcement.

Abdalnour’s arrest capped an investigation that began a month before the Cypress jewelry business owner was sworn in by the department, which raised questions about whether the celebrity reserve unit’s members were given adequate background checks.

Tatarian and another man, Lionel Rodriguez, were also indicted Wednesday on suspicion of attempting to smuggle guns onto planes at Los Angeles International Airport. Rodriguez, 29, of Diamond Bar, worked as a loss prevention agent at a duty-free shop at LAX.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Jean A. Kawahara said the men thought they had successfully arranged to have guns placed on flights to Ireland for a fee of $900 per firearm. But the money was paid to undercover police officers operating a sting, she said.

On Oct. 22, five guns were brought into LAX, taken past security and delivered to an undercover agent, who was supposed to carry the weapons onto a plane, Kawahara said.

Prosecutors said no weapons were actually taken aboard a plane and emphasized that federal authorities were in control of the situation at all times.