A Russian national, Alexey Komov, has been indicted for allegedly assisting sanctioned oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev in violating U.S. sanctions. The indictment, unsealed today, charges Komov with conspiracy and violations of U.S. sanctions related to his role in employing an American citizen, Jack Hanick, to launch and operate a television network in Russia.
Komov is accused of conspiring with Malofeyev to transfer a $10 million investment from a U.S. bank to a business associate in Greece, contravening sanctions that block Malofeyev's assets from being transferred. Co-Director Menno Goedman of Task Force KleptoCapture stated, "The indictment alleges Alexey Komov played an essential role in a multi-faceted scheme to violate and evade U.S. sanctions imposed on a significant financier of Russian aggression in Ukraine."
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York emphasized the seriousness of the allegations against Komov: "As alleged, Alexey Komov facilitated the efforts of Konstantin Malofeyev — an oligarch closely tied to Russian aggression in Ukraine who has been determined by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to have been one of the main sources of financing for the promotion of Russia-aligned separatist groups operating in the sovereign nation of Ukraine — to flout U.S. sanctions."
In 2014, Executive Order 13660 was issued by the president, declaring a national emergency concerning Ukraine's situation and blocking property linked to individuals involved in actions threatening Ukraine's sovereignty or providing support for such activities.
Malofeyev was designated as a Specially Designated National (SDN) by OFAC under this order due to his financial support for separatism in Crimea and assistance to groups like the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The indictment claims that since at least 2012, Komov assisted Malofeyev by recruiting Hanick for a new Russian cable television news network. Despite OFAC's designation in December 2014, Hanick continued working on this project with Komov's help.
Komov also aided Malofeyev in transferring ownership of a shell company used for investing $10 million into a Texas-based bank holding company. This transfer aimed at circumventing sanctions was allegedly executed fraudulently.
The United States seized approximately $5.4 million traceable to Malofeyev’s investment after it was converted into cash held in a blocked account by the Texas Bank.
Currently believed to be residing in Russia, both Malofeyev and Komov remain at large. Komov faces charges carrying potential penalties up to 20 years imprisonment per count if convicted.
The FBI is leading investigations alongside assistance from various Justice Department divisions including its Office Of International Affairs while prosecution is managed by Assistant U.S Attorneys Vladislav Vainberg Thane Rehn Jessica Greenwood alongside Trial Attorney Scott Claffee within National Security Division’s Counterintelligence Export Section under coordination through Task Force KleptoCapture which aims enforce sweeping economic countermeasures imposed following Russia’s military invasion Ukraine back March 2022
An indictment represents mere allegations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law