Iranian Instagram King Arrested by ICE
Iranian Instagram star Farzad “Tony” Toutouni was taken into ICE custody on Oct. 27, accused of illegal entry and a decades‑long crime spree. The arrest caps a 30‑year run of evading immigration enforcement while flaunting luxury lifestyles.
Toutouni, who commands more than one million followers with racy model photos and supercar posts, lives in a $5 million Hollywood Hills mansion. He entered the United States legally in 1983, then repeatedly ignored removal orders issued in 1993 and 1999.
Court records show he faced charges including criminal threats, conspiracy, drug possession and sale, and a 16‑month sentence for check fraud, grand theft, kidnapping, robbery and extortion. ICE officials say he also possessed and distributed controlled substances.
In April 2011, he crossed the St. Clair River near Michigan using an electric raft bought in Canada, a move that allowed him to re‑enter the country without inspection. Authorities say he has remained in the United States ever since, despite the earlier deportation orders.
Social media users expressed outrage, calling the case a symptom of a broken justice system. One commentator warned that the nation’s two‑tiered structure rewards criminals and endangers ordinary citizens.
In a press release, ICE confirmed the arrest on criminal threats, conspiracy and drug offenses, and reiterated that Toutouni was ordered removed in 1993 and again in 1999 before being deported to Mexico.
