US announces charges against Russian businessmen and their facilitators in a message to Putin
The Justice Department has announced a series of arrests and indictments against Russian businessmen and their facilitators in five separate federal cases that span New York, Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced a series of arrests and indictments Thursday against Russian businessmen and their facilitators in five separate federal cases that span New York, Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia.
The action was timed to coincide with the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, 2022.
Charges were unsealed in New York against sanctioned Russian banker Andrei Kostin and two of his U.S.-based facilitators. The facilitators, Vadim Wolfson and Gannon Bond, were arrested Thursday.
Kostin is the longtime president of VTB Bank, a state-owned bank and Russia's second largest. He is charged with engaging in a scheme to evade sanctions and launder money to support two superyachts. Kostin and the two facilitators are also accused of trying to evade sanctions related to a luxury home in Aspen, Colorado.
Michael Khoo, a co-director of the department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, said on a call with reporters that the announcement was meant to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “we’re not going away” and “we can play the long game as well" so long as the war continues.
The KleptoCapture task force enforces the economic restrictions within the U.S. imposed on Russia and its billionaires.
The Justice Department says over the past two years it has secured court orders for the restraint, seizure, and forfeiture of nearly $700 million in assets and has charged more than 70 people with violating sanctions and export
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