An investigation into the theft of valuable gold and silver coins from a Henderson man has led to the arrest and incarceration of Parhaam A. Akhavi of Mountain Home.  On May 19, 2011, the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a person residing at 1034 CR 834 in Henderson that a quantity of valuable coins were found missing from his locked safe after he returned home from being out of town for a short period of time.  These included four (4) gold 1 oz. coins dated from 1908 to 1918 and twenty-eight (28) 1984 and 1988 gold Olympic coins.  The victim valued his loss from those coins at $20,000.  Also missing was an unknown number of silver coins, the value of which was undetermined at the time.

     The victim was able to provide Sheriff’s Investigators with the name of a potential suspect, who is his nephew.  During the investigation it was learned that the suspect, Parhaam Akhavi, had pawned four gold coins matching the description of the missing coins.  These were pawned at Porter Pawn Shop in Mountain Home on April 14, 2011.  Investigators also learned that Parhaam Akhavi had sold a number of other coins to Trader Mike’s Coin Shop for $5,209.50. 

     On Wednesday, May 25^th, Investigators located Parhaam Akhavi at his house in Mountain Home.  He was asked to come to the Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed about the complaint, which he did.  After Mr. Akhavi was brought to the Sheriff’s Office, Investigators executed a search warrant on his residence.  They found a large quantity of coins, some loose, some in vinyl pouches, and some proof sets in plastic cases. 

     Investigators also found evidence in the form of maps and detailed documents indicating that Mr. Akhavi had been conspiring to commit other burglaries and thefts at up to ten (10) targeted locations. 

    During the course of his interview, Mr. Akhavi admitted that he had taken the coins from the victim and sold or otherwise disposed of them.  Some of the proceeds from the sold or pawned coins had been used to purchase other articles, some of which have been recovered.  These included a pickup truck that Mr. Akhavi later gave to the victim.  Mr. Akhavi also admitted that he and a co-conspirator had made plans to commit thefts at two other locations.

     Parhaam A. Akhavi, 30 years old of Mountain Home, has been charged with:

                        Breaking or Entering – Class D Felony
                        Theft of Property – Class B Felony
                        Conspiracy to Commit Theft (2 counts) – Class C Felonies
                        Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft (8 counts) – Class C Felonies

     He is currently being held in the Baxter County Detention Center in lieu of $150,000 bond.  He will appear in the Baxter County Circuit Court at a later time.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff