Story perspectives

California Trio Sentenced for Bear Costume Insurance Fraud

4/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Alfiya Zuckerman, Ruben Tamrazian, and Vahe Muradkhanyan were sentenced in California for an insurance fraud scheme involving a bear costume.
They staged bear attacks on luxury cars to seek nearly $142,000 in payouts, per the California Insurance Department's Operation Bear Claw.
Video evidence showed a person in a bear costume.
A fourth suspect, Ararat Chirkinian, awaits a court hearing in September.
Investigators found the bear costume at the suspects’ residence.

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Story summary

Alfiya Zuckerman, Ruben Tamrazian, and Vahe Muradkhanyan were sentenced in California for an insurance fraud scheme involving a bear costume.
They staged bear attacks on luxury cars to seek nearly $142,000 in payouts, per the California Insurance Department's Operation Bear Claw.
Video evidence showed a person in a bear costume.
A fourth suspect, Ararat Chirkinian, awaits a court hearing in September.
Investigators found the bear costume at the suspects’ residence.