Farzad “Tony” Toutouni, a 55-year-old Iranian influencer known as the “King of Instagram,” was arrested by ICE in Los Angeles on October 27. (Foto: Instagram)
Farzad “Tony” Toutouni, a 55-year-old Iranian influencer known as the “King of Instagram,” was arrested in Los Angeles by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The report says he entered the United States illegally on a flight from Canada. Investigators also accuse him of crimes dating to the 1980s, including kidnapping, robbery and extortion.
Toutouni, who has more than 1.3 million Instagram followers, was arrested on October 27. On social media, he describes himself as a “pelvis philanthropist,” as well as a real estate investor and collector of exotic cars. His posts display lavish parties, nude women, bundles of cash, travel and luxury settings.
Investigators say Toutouni also used the name “Robert” and committed serious crimes in the United States after settling in the country illegally in 1983. ICE officials said he was arrested on allegations including criminal threats, criminal conspiracy, and possession and sale of a controlled substance, according to the New York Post.
Toutouni was also sentenced to 16 months in prison for issuing or passing bad checks, aggravated theft, conspiracy, forgery, kidnapping, robbery and extortion. He was subject to deportation orders at least twice: in 1993, when he managed to remain in the country, and in 1999, when he was deported to Mexico. He reportedly returned to the United States in 2011 by crossing a river into Michigan on an electric raft.
