A career criminal who is also a transient was arrested and a stolen vehicle was recovered in Florida.
According to local law enforcement, deputies arrested the man and recovered a vehicle that had been stolen in Putnam County.
Deputies recently located a truck that had been reported stolen in Putnam County on the shoulder of State Road 100 West in Bunnell. When deputies found the truck, they observed a man, later identified as 56-year-old Armen Pilafjian, a transient according to law enforcement, standing at the front of the vehicle appearing to work on it.
According to local law enforcement, Pilafjian told deputies he had taken possession of the vehicle from a friend, with the understanding that he would eventually provide payment for it. He also stated the agreement had been made using another friend’s phone, and he did not have a phone of his own to contact the victim regarding payment, according to FCSO.
Pilafjian did not possess a key to the vehicle, but deputies determined he was able to operate it by manually turning the ignition cylinder, law enforcement stated.
After confirming the vehicle’s license plate had been reported stolen, local deputies arrested Armen Pilafjian for petit theft with prior convictions. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was held on a $5,000 bond.
Due to a clerical error that was discovered involving mismatched vehicle identification numbers, deputies could not confirm the vehicle itself as stolen. The investigation was ongoing, and an additional charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle was expected to be added once the clerical error is corrected, according to FCSO.
“This guy told deputies his friend agreed to give him the truck. That obviously wasn’t the case, as it was instead reported stolen and deputies found he didn’t even have a key to the vehicle but was manipulating the ignition,” said Sheriff Staly. “Combine that with the fact he has a 76-page rap sheet for convictions for thefts dating back nearly 40 years, the circumstances didn’t paint a good picture for him, so now he’s sitting in the Green Roof Inn. It’s time this career criminal goes back to prison!”
According to local law enforcement, Armen Pilafjian has an extensive arrest history, with 34 previous arrests for charges including grand theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of a dwelling while armed, burglary with assault or battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief with property damage, fraudulent use of a credit card, uttering a forged instrument, dealing in stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of cocaine, domestic battery, and felony driving while license suspended. His prior arrests have resulted in 22 felony convictions and 12 misdemeanor convictions; 18 of his convictions are theft related. He has served six sentences in state prison.
