World ECR | U.S. Department of Justice cracks down on Russian sanctions evasion

U.S. authorities have unveiled charges in two separate cases involving Russia’s sanctions evasion scheme, including one involving a Russian national who assisted a sanctioned oligarch and another freight forwarding manager who allegedly facilitated illegal exports to Russia.

According to a December 12 announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, 53-year-old Alexey Komov is accused of helping sanctioned oligarch Konstantin Komov through schemes and illegal asset transfers involving employees of U.S. television networks. Konstantin Malofeyev violated US sanctions. Separately, Natalya Ivanovna Mazulina, 41, was arrested in Seattle on December 10 on suspicion of assisting in the illegal shipment of controlled industrial equipment to Russia.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said, “As alleged, Mazurina used her position as manager of a freight forwarding company to facilitate illegal exports to Russia through JFK Airport,” she noted. She allegedly told colleagues that her clients were using third-country bank accounts because they were currently under “sanctions” in the United States.

Komov allegedly assisted Malofeev in hiring U.S. citizen Jack Hanik for a Russian television project and helped transfer $10 million in U.S. investments to a Greek associate, violating sanctions on Malofeev’s assets.

“The indictment alleges that Komov played a key role in a multifaceted scheme to violate and evade U.S. sanctions imposed on a significant sponsor of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,” said Gates, co-director of the Thieves Capture Task Force. No Goldman said.

Both cases carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. While Komov remains at large in Russia, Mazulina faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to export controlled goods, money laundering and submitting false export documents. The United States previously seized $5.4 million related to Malofeev’s investments in a Texas bank, and the funds were diverted to support Ukrainian veterans.

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