BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Texas arrest, Colorado home linked to head of Russian bank

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – JANUARY 26 (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) arrives to the ceremony at the Baltic Shipyard to start construction of the nuclear icebreaker Leningrad, as VTB Group Chairman Andrei Kostin (R) looks on January,26,2024, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. President Putin is having a four-day trip to Saint Petersbirg prior to the 2024 Presidential Elections. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday charged the CEO of Russian-state owned VTB Bank Andrey Kostin and two U.S.-based associates with sanctions violations as part of a flurry of enforcement actions aimed at Russia two years after it invaded Ukraine.

Kostin, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2018, is accused of money laundering and sanctions violations through his maintenance of two yachts worth more than $135 million and a home in the resort town of Aspen, Colorado, according to an indictment in Manhattan federal court.

Two associates, Vadim Wolfson and Gannon Bond were arrested in the United States on charges of helping to take care of the $12 million Colorado property while concealing that Kostin owned it, U.S. Justice Department officials said.

A local federal task force arrested Wolfson in Austin, Texas, NewsNation affiliate KXAN reported.

He is listed as the owner of two properties in Austin valued at nearly $10 million, according to KXAN.

Kostin, who is believed to be in Russia, remains at large.

The indictment was one of five criminal and civil actions the Justice Department unveiled on Thursday as part of an effort by U.S. authorities to crackdown on people with ties to the Kremlin.

“The Justice Department is more committed than ever to cutting off the flow of illegal funds that are fueling Putin’s war and to holding accountable those who continue to enable it,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The other cases include charges against pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko for allegedly using shell companies to sell metal products in the United States.

Kurchenko, an associate of former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich, was sanctioned by the United States in 2015. Kurchenko, who is believed to live in Moscow, is not in U.S. custody.

U.S. authorities also moved to seize two Florida condominiums allegedly linked to the founders of a sanctioned Russian construction company and indicted a resident of Switzerland accused of operating a superyacht owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.

KXAN contributed to this report.

© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023.

War in Ukraine

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

66°F Sunny Feels like 66°
Wind
4 mph SSW
Humidity
33%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
52°F Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph S
Precip
16%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous