IS LEGALIZED MARIJUANA HELPING COLORADO? Page 3


SIERRA MADRE EDITION

 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 

VOLUME 12 NO. 38

GOURDIKIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO 

ILLEGAL GUNS SALES 


A former Pasadena police Lieutenant pled guilty in court 
Thursday, to federal charges related to selling at least 108 
firearms without a license, as part of a plea deal with 
prosecutors.

 Vasken Kenneth Gourdikian of Sierra Madre also pled 
guilty to making false statements about the gun sales. As 
part of the deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gourdikian 
is expected to be sentenced to 30 months in prison, three 
years of supervised release and pay a fine. His sentencing is 
set of Feb. 4.

 Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chou said Gourdikian 
was a gun dealer and not a hobbyist as he claimed. 

 “He was buying them, acquiring inventory, he was 
advertizing them online, he was selling them direct to 
buyers.” Chou said. “He was selling them very quickly after 
he was able to take physical custody of the firearms.”

 According to court documents, of the guns Gourdikian 
sold, 80 were “off-roster” firearms, guns that cannot be 
purchased or sold by the public in California. 

 Mark Werksman, Gourdikian’s Attorney said he could 
have sold the guns legally if he had paid $25 for the license.

 “Vasken Gourdikian meant no harm to the community, 
“ Mark Werksman, Gourdikian’s Attorney, “In fact at times 
he didn’t know he was violating federal law and it’s really 
a shame that his distinguished career in law enforcement 
ended this way” 

 Gourdikian resined from the Pasadena police force in 
March. He was a 23 year veteran and the departments 
pubic spokesperson. 

 Gourdikian’s troubles started when a firearm he had 
sold was recovered at a crime scene by a neighboring 
police department and traced, by the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to him in 2016. 

D. Lee/MVNews

Photo courtesy CBS2

REMEMBRANCE: WILLIAM J. MAY


On Friday, September 14, 2018, William 
J May, loving husband, father and 
grandfather of 3, passed away at the age 
of 71 to Cancer.

 Bill was born on November 28, 1946 
(Thanksgiving Day) in Newark, New 
Jersey to Helen and William May. He 
received his BA in Accounting from Cal 
State Los Angeles and became a Certified 
Public Accountant thereafter. He opened 
his own firm, May Consulting Group, Inc. 
in 1978 and practiced accounting for over 
40 years in Pasadena, CA. On July 22, 
1972 he married Patricia Ann May. They 
raised two children, Scott and Lynn. Bill 
also had three grandchildren, Samantha, 
Ethan and Aiden Harris.

 Bill was passionate about the Pasadena 
area community. He was involved in 
several organizations that not only meant a lot to him but 
shaped the person he was; Bill was one of the most giving 
people you would ever meet. Some of the organizations 
he gave his time and energy to were: Tournament of 
Roses, Honorary Life Member of the Pasadena Jaycees, 
Past President of the Pasadena Exchange Club, Member 
of the Quarterbacks Club, Member of the Pasadena and 
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors of 
the Salvation Army, Business Network 
International, Member of The University 
Club, Member of Monrovia BIZness 
Breakfast Club, Board of Directors 
for Non-Profits such as: The SEALove 
Foundation, Project Cuddle, Present Now, 
and The Esther Program. Bill was also a 
Veteran of the United States of America 
Army from 1965-1969.

 Bill’s other passions included Golf, 
USC Football and his three beautiful 
grandchildren. He loved watching them 
in their sports, taking them golfing, 
and swimming with them in his pool. 
Some of the best memories of Bill were 
in Maui, his favorite place in the whole 
world, watching him swim with his 
grandchildren, or surf the waves. In the 
most recent years, Bill became an avid 
traveler, and along with his wife Patricia, they would 
travel the world together creating memories of a lifetime.

 A Memorial/Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, 
September 30th, 2018 from 10am-1pm at The University 
Club in Pasadena, CA. Please RSVP to The May Consulting 
Group, as we want to ensure that all those that loved Bill 
may attend. In honor of Bill’s favorite place, please come in 
Hawaiian attire. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com