Entertainment
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested the Iranian ‘King of Instagram.’
Iranian citizen Farzad “Tony” Toutouni, 55, was arrested in Los Angeles on Oct. 27 by ICE agents after his illegal entry into the US from Canada and an alleged crime spree dating back to 1989 that includes kidnapping, robbery, and extortion, authorities said.
Toutouni, who lived in a $5 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills, flaunted his racy lifestyle online under the Instagram handle @lunatic_living, posting photos of cash, nude women, and wild parties, while hiding from immigration agents.
Investigators say Toutouni, who also used the first name “Robert,” committed a series of serious crimes in the US after arriving here legally in 1983.
He has been arrested for criminal threats, criminal conspiracy, and possession and sale of a controlled substance, ICE officials said.
He was also sentenced to more than 16 months’ imprisonment for making or passing a fictitious check, grand theft, conspiracy, forgery, kidnapping, robbery and extortion, according to the officials.
In 1993, an immigration judge ordered Toutouni removed from the country, but he managed to remain, according to authorities. In 1999, another judge ordered him removed once again, and he was deported to Mexico, the feds say.
Toutouni said he again entered the US illegally on or about April 4, 2011, near Saint Clair, Michigan, by crossing the river using an electric raft purchased in Canada, according to ICE officials.
Along the way, Toutouni created a party animal persona that he bragged about online. A recent series of posts showed him celebrating at Burning Man with beautiful women and an ostentatious campsite featuring a custom RV and trailer that featured psychedelic décor.
“I’m happy I experienced it, but it’s not something I would ever want to do again,” he said of the rowdy desert festival.
ICE officials said Toutouni is now being held in federal custody as authorities begin removal proceedings against him.
