A California couple was sentenced to jail for illegally acquiring greater than $20 million in COVID-19 aid funds — however authorities have to catch them first.

Richard Ayvazyan, 43, was sentenced to 17 years behind bars and his spouse, 37-year-old Marietta Terabelian, acquired a six-year sentence in federal jail on Monday for conspiracy, financial institution fraud and cash laundering, in response to the Division of Justice.

The 2 are on the run from authorities and have been sentenced in absentia.

Federal officers stated they lower their monitoring bracelets on Aug. 29, federal officers stated.

Throughout the sentencing, U.S. District Choose Stephen V. Wilson stated he couldn’t recall a fraud case carried out in such a “callous, intentional means with none regard for the regulation.”

Wilson described Ayvazyan as “an endemic, cold-hearted fraudster with no regard for the regulation” and somebody who “views fraud as an achievement.”

The decide additionally sentenced Ayvazyan’s brother, Artur, 41, to 5 years in jail.

On June 25, a federal jury discovered Richard Ayvazyan, Artur Ayvazyan and Terabelian responsible of 1 rely of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and wire fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, eight counts of financial institution fraud and one rely of conspiracy to commit cash laundering.

Richard Ayvazyan and his brother have been additionally convicted of aggravated id theft.

The FBI is providing a reward of as much as $20,000 for data resulting in the arrest of Richard Ayvazyan and Terabelian.