Landlord sentenced 20 years in prison in murder-for-hire plots

A North Hollywood landlord convicted of hiring a hitman to kill two opponents, then hiring an arsonist to torch his own apartment building, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Arthur Raffy Aslanian, 55, of La Cañada Flintridge repeatedly resorted to violence to settle business disputes and avoid paying debts, federal prosecutors argued during his five-day trial last July. A jury found him guilty on two counts of conspiracy and three charges related to murder for hire and arson, and on Monday a federal judge handed down the 20-year...