Armenian Gangs in L.A. - - Hayvanstanci Leader

The collapse of the Soviet Union prompted a massive wave of Armenian immigration into Los Angeles County, California, primarily in the communities of East Hollywood, North Hollywood, Hollywood, Pasadena, Burbank and Glendale. Faced with pressure from Mexican and Salvadoran gang members in the area, young Armenians in East Hollywood grouped together to form Armenian Power.Armenian-American street gangs are not large in terms of numbers but are violent and influential enough to allegedly be involved in Mexican Mafia peace talks between Hispanic gangs. The Armenian Power gang was a quickly growing gang in Hollywood and Glendale which formed partnerships with other gangs. The gang's main enemies are Toonerville Rifa 13, The Avenues (gang) and MS-13. Armen Petrosyan was the founder and leader of Armenian Power, also known as Silent.
In May 2000, a Latino gang member shot and killed a former leader of Hollywood's Armenian Power gang in a deli in East Hollywood where the Armenian gang held turf.
In Hollywood an Armenian immigrant group — Armenian Power (AP) — were believed to be responsible for a dozen driveby murders by mid- 1997.