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