FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 14,
2009
Contact:
Adam Radinsky, Deputy City Attorney
310-458-8327
The Santa
Monica City Attorney’s Office has filed a five-count criminal complaint against
the former owners and managers of Cozi Couch, a high-end custom furniture store
with locations in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. The Santa Monica store, located
at Seventh and Wilshire, went out of business in March 2009.
The four
defendants in the case are Arman Hazarian, the owner of the business; and his
three managers, Cory Iturribarria, Nelson Freytes, and Jaime Seoane.
The
defendants will be arraigned today at the LAX criminal courthouse.
The
misdemeanor complaint charges the defendants with grand theft, false
advertising, and doing business without a City business license.
The City Attorney’s
Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) had been investigating the company and its
owners in conjunction with the state Bureau of Home Furnishings and the Santa
Monica Police Department. Several dozen former customers have filed complaints
with the CPU. Many customers have claimed in Small Claims Court cases that they
paid thousands of dollars for custom furniture items that were never delivered.
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