Russian National Charged With Violating Sanctions by Helping Oligarch Set Up TV Station
An indictment was unsealed last week charging Russian national Alexey Komov with conspiracy and U.S. sanctions violations stemming from his aid to sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. Komov allegedly conspired with Malofeyev to recruit an American citizen, Jack Hanick, to start and operate a television network in Russia.
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Malofeyev was sanctioned in 2014 for being one of the "main sources of financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea." Prior to his listing, Malofeyev was working to create a Russian television news network, and tasked Komov with recruiting Hanick. Hanick was later charged with violating U.S. sanctions by aiding the oligarch (see 2203030060).
Komov also allegedly conspired with Malofeyev, Hanick and others to illegally transfer a shell company to a business associate in Greece, violating sanctions that barred Malofeyev's assets from being transferred, DOJ said. Malofeyev and Komov had used the shell company to make a $10 million investment in a Texas-based bank holding company.
When they transferred the company, they "fraudulently backdated" the sale and purchase agreement to make it appear as if the sale had taken place before Malofeyev was sanctioned, DOJ said. The U.S. said it seized and forfeited around $5.4 million in property traceable to the transfer.
Komov was charged with violating and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which each carry a maximum 20-year prison sentence. DOJ said Malofeyev is at large and believed to be in Russia.