Los Angeles

Alleged FBI Impersonator Pleads Not Guilty to Trying to Smuggle Weapons

A Sunland man who's accused of impersonating an FBI agent and trying to smuggle a hunting knife, two Tasers and handcuffs into the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, and is also facing child pornography-related counts, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges in both cases.

Greg Nickol Baghoomian, 28, faces a maximum possible sentence of one year and eight months if convicted of one felony count each of bringing a weapon into a jail and using a counterfeit seal and one misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a badge. He is due back in court on Feb. 4, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

At an earlier hearing, an attorney for Baghoomian declared doubt as to his client's competency to stand trial, but the defendant was later found competent, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Baghoomian allegedly approached the enclosed booth in the jail's Inmate Reception Center at 450 Bauchet St. on March 6 and flashed a badge and ID to try to get inside the lockup. When deputies tried to check his credentials, Baghoomian ran out and headed to the jail facility across the street, where they caught up with him.

Baghoomian is charged in a separate and unrelated case with one felony count each of distributing, sending or receiving obscene matter into the state for sale or distribution and possession of more than 600 images of child or youth pornography, according to the District Attorney's office.

He pleaded not guilty to those charges in the same court appearance.

If convicted on those counts, prosecutors said Baghoomian could face as much as another five years and eight months in prison.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
Contact Us