Ukrainian politician recruited by the Kremlin is accused of money laundering in the United States: he faces up to 30 years in prison
Andriy Derkach, a Ukrainian politician with a pro-Russian stance, is accused of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. In addition, Derkach purchased the property in violation of new US sanctions imposed earlier this year. This is stated on the site. US Department of Justice.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Chief Executive of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and Andrew Adams, Director of the Klepto Capture Task Force, announced the charges.
“The behavior of this Kremlin agent, who was sanctioned for trying to poison our democracy, showed that he is ready, willing and able to use our banking system to achieve his illegal goals. The US will not be a safe haven where criminals, oligarchs, or sanctioned entities can hide their ill-gotten gains or influence our elections,” US Attorney Breon Peace said.
Kremlin-backed Ukrainian politician and oligarch Andriy Derkach has been sanctioned for trying to influence the 2020 US presidential election on behalf of Russian intelligence agencies. While engaging in a Russia-led disinformation campaign aimed at undermining US institutions, Derkach simultaneously conspired to fraudulently benefit himself and his family in the United States," Michael Driscoll, assistant chief director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said in a statement.
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Since 1998, with the exception of a break from November 2006 to November 2007, Derkach was a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine. During his tenure in the Rada, Derkach was a member of the Party of Regions, a pro-Russian political party that was the ruling party in Ukraine from 2010 until the revolution in 2014. On September 10, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Derkach and several companies controlled by him. It called him "an active Russian agent with close ties to the Russian intelligence services" who "led a covert influence campaign" to undermine the 2020 US presidential election.
Since 2013, Derkach and an accomplice have been running a scheme to buy and maintain two luxury condominiums in Beverly Hills, California, while hiding their interest in transactions from US financial institutions, according to the indictment.
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In particular, Derkach used a multi-level shell company structure in California, as well as numerous bank and brokerage accounts in the United States. Using this structure, Derkach transferred approximately $3,92 million to the nominee from foreign accounts in Latvia and Switzerland owned by the companies.
The money was then used to pay $3,2 million in cash on behalf of a legal entity set up by a nominee, with Derkach having no apparent connection to the purchase. The remaining $800 was deposited into a brokerage account opened by a nominee for Derkach and used to pay for condominium expenses, including taxes, homeowner's fees and utilities.
If Derkach is found guilty, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
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