‘Instagram King’ arrested.

If you follow big Instagram accounts from the Gulf, you’ve probably scrolled past posts like his without knowing the man behind them had two deportation orders against him. That’s the story making headlines this week, and it’s a useful one for anyone who follows viral social media figures without asking where their money, or their legal status, actually comes from.

US immigration officers in Los Angeles arrested Farzad “Tony” Toutouni, an Iranian citizen also known online as the “King of Instagram,” on 27 October. He had more than 1 million followers before his arrest, and his case shows how immigration enforcement can catch up with someone even after years of living openly in public. You can read our other international news from around the world for more stories like this one.

Who is Farzad Toutouni?

Toutouni first entered the United States legally in 1983. An immigration judge ordered him removed in 1993, but he was not deported at that time.

A second removal order followed in 1999, and he was deported to Mexico. Toutouni has said he crossed back into the US illegally on or around 4 April 2011, near Saint Clair, Michigan. He told authorities he used an electric raft he bought in Canada to cross the river.

ICE says his criminal record dates back to 1989 and continued for decades. He has faced arrests for criminal threats, criminal conspiracy, and possession and sale of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to more than 16 months in prison for charges that included making or passing a fictitious cheque, grand theft of an access card, conspiracy to commit a crime, possessing or altering access card equipment, forgery, kidnapping, robbery and extortion.

How he became the ‘King of Instagram’

In recent years, Toutouni built a public profile as a social media personality, gathering more than 1 million followers. His posts mostly showed hard-core and soft-core adult content, along with pictures of himself next to high-end cars, private aircraft and women.

In June 2023, an Israeli immigrant named Emil Lahaziel was killed outside a mansion in West Hollywood that Toutouni was renting at the time. ICE’s statement links the two only by location and timing; no further detail on that case was given.

The gap between his online image and his real legal history is the part worth remembering. If something looks too polished, it often is. We’ve also covered how a photo-filter gang blackmailed influencers across several countries, which is another case of online fame hiding something darker underneath.

What happens to him now?

Toutouni remains in ICE custody while his removal proceedings continue. No date for a decision has been given. ICE has not said whether he faces fresh criminal charges linked to the 2023 killing near his rented home.

ICE also reminded the public it takes tips on crimes and suspicious activity through its hotline, (866) DHS-2-ICE, or through an online tip form.

What this means if you’re watching from Kuwait

This case happened in the US, and it has no direct effect on visas, fees or paperwork here in Kuwait. But it’s a story worth noticing for two reasons.

First, it’s a reminder that social media fame doesn’t protect anyone from the law, wherever they live. Gulf-based followers of big accounts, including many in Kuwait, often see only the curated side of an influencer’s life. Second, immigration enforcement around the world has been getting more active this year, and stories like this one tend to travel fast because they combine a familiar online face with a long criminal and immigration history.

[EDITOR NOTE: a line here about how often expats in Kuwait follow US-based influencers without knowing their background would fit well.]

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