CNN –
The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping series of criminal and civil enforcement actions targeting sanctioned Russian oligarchs and others accused of supporting the Kremlin and its military.
The announcement by the Justice Department's KleptoCapture Task Force comes days before the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The task force – made up of federal prosecutors, investigators and analysts – has targeted the wealth network surrounding Russian oligarchs and Kremlin insiders. In the two years since Russia's invasion, the task force has brought about 70 criminal cases against individuals and five criminal cases against companies. More than a dozen of the defendants have been arrested around the world, ministry officials said.
The task force has also taken action to seize about $700 million in assets that Justice Department officials said they hope to ultimately transfer to Ukraine or use for aid projects. While most of that money is still forfeiting, ministry officials said, about $6 million has been transferred to Ukraine so far.
David Lim, one of the task force's co-directors, said Thursday he hopes the enforcement actions demonstrate the ministry's “commitment and determination to enforce our laws in the hope that we play a role in supporting the Ukrainian people.” can.” ”
“What you've seen through today's public announcement is our efforts to really target the intermediaries who have the necessary skills, access and connections that have enabled the Russian war machine, the Russian elites, to continually gain access to “Western services and western goods,” Lim said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, said in a statement that the Justice Department is “more committed than ever to stopping the flow of illicit funds that are fueling Putin’s war and holding accountable those who continue to enable it.”
As part of Thursday's announcement, the Justice Department revealed two cases from Florida. In the first case, prosecutors announced criminal charges against a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch accused of conducting more than $300 million in trades in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Prosecutors also filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit against two luxury Miami condos allegedly owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Perevalov. According to prosecutors, the properties are located in the Ritz-Carlton and are valued at approximately $2.5 million.
In New York, prosecutors announced charges against another sanctioned Russian oligarch, accused of laundering money to support “two superyachts.” Oligarch Andrey Kostin and two U.S. residents are also accused of plotting to evade U.S. sanctions by concealing Kostin's ownership of an apartment in Aspen, Colorado, and working to modernize the apartment. The three also tried to sell the house for $12 million.
The department filed additional charges against Vladislav Osipov, a dual citizen of Russia and Switzerland who is accused of concealing his ownership of a 255-foot luxury yacht called Tango in violation of U.S. sanctions.
And in Georgia, prosecutors secured a guilty plea from Atlanta resident Feliks Medvedev for his role in an alleged scheme to launder more than $150 million through bank accounts and shell companies on behalf of Russian clients.