Last January and February, Armenians were in the spotlight in California , featured in broadcasts by ABC and NBC, the largest US TV networks. One reason for the public attention was the trial of five men accused of robbing more than thirty department stores. The gang was led by George Mousa, an Arab from Lebanon, but the other four were Armenians-Sargis Baltadjyan, 38, Garen Tagvoryan, 29, Gegham Verdiyan, 54 and Tigran Simonyan, 31. The Armenians don't have permits to live in the US , and their main occupation was robbery and burglary. The gang managed to steal $2 million worth of cigarettes (mainly Dunhills), lighters, and jewelry. They felt secure enough to keep a warehouse, from which they distributed the stolen goods. The LAPD is now seeking their customers, fairly sure that they too were Armenian.

According to official data, there are more than 14,000 Armenians in the US prison system. The authorities have offered to set some of them free, on condition that they return home. But our compatriots have turned the offer down, choosing US jails over freedom in Armenia .

The main reason Armenians end up in jail is fraud. As painful as it is to acknowledge, the Armenian Church - the Holy Virgin Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, California-is involved. This church, by the way, is also famous for holding a Bingo Night in its basement, which makes for a very active nightlife. During daylight hours, the clergymen advise our compatriots not to wear expensive jewelry, and to go around in old clothes in order to receive government aid. Of course, after they get their welfare checks, some can't resist the temptation to buy luxury cars. For Armenians in California , a car is not just a means of transportation, it's a sign of who the owner is and it's easy to spot which cars belong to Armenians.

This fact hasn't escaped the attention of their neighbors. Some have called NBC and told the station about what's going on in the neighborhood, and in the Armenian Church.

But Captain Ron De Pompa , chief of the Investigative Services Division of the Glendale police, sees Armenians in a more favorable light. He says that compared to 44,000 US cities, Glendale is an island of safety. "This is not only thanks to the good work of the police but also because of the Armenian community. The majority of Glendale 's population is Armenian, but the number of crimes committed by Armenians constitutes only 17 percent of the total number of crimes. There is only one criminal gang here, called Armenian Power, which compared with the Mexican gangs is very weak," Captain De Pompa tells us.

He points out that the Glendale police force focuses most of its attention on its mainly Mexican street gangs. There are 1.2 policemen per each 1,000 residents of Glendale , a number he says needs to be increased.

Bob Yousefian , a City Council member, says that it is those Armenians who immigrated to the United States after the collapse of the Soviet Union who are involved in crime. "After the collapse of the USSR , many KGB agents became unemployed. Those who managed to come to the US are now involved in criminal activity. I know Armenians who get hold of weapons, come from time to time, knock at your door and say: 'Hey buddy, here I am, give me what you have or I'll kill you." People pay them off once, and then they can't get rid of them. Just like the Italian mafia used to shake down Italians, today Armenians shake down Armenians," Yousefian says.

Another reason that Armenians wind up in American jails - according to the director of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Glendale , Artashes Ghukasian - is that they were born in Iran , Iraq , or Lebanon and the authorities confuse them with Muslims. Since September 11 th , all males aged 20- 80 who don't have residence permits have been required to register with the police. "Since September 11 th , 800 Armenians have gone to jail and so far no charges have been brought against them. The reason is that they were taken for Muslims. These people are not citizens and they cannot defend their rights," Ghukasian says.

The ANC office is also trying to help people whose families live abroad and have problems getting entry visas to the US . For example, Iranian Armenians are unable to join their families in the US because there is no US Embassy in Iran . "During the Soviet era, Armenians were encouraged by the US to come here, but today when Armenians from Iran or Iraq want to come to the US they are called representatives of terrorist countries. For this reason, many Armenians from Iran and Iraq have moved to Australia , but they can't come here or go back to those countries. In Iran or Iraq , when the authorities learn that they applied for US citizenship, they are immediately deprived of their property or jobs," Ghukasyan continues.

Though he says that the ANC periodically meets with senators, congressmen and representatives of the state department and try to help our compatriots, Ghukasian couldn't name a single person that they had been able to help. Indeed, he acknowledged that Diaspora political and charity organizations don't do much in this direction.