WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a significant set of criminal and civil enforcement actions aimed at sanctioned Russian oligarchs and individuals suspected of aiding the Kremlin and its military. This move comes just days before the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The task force, known as Task Force KleptoCapture, consists of federal prosecutors, investigators, and analysts and has been focused on targeting the financial networks surrounding Russian oligarchs and Kremlin insiders. Over the past two years, the task force has initiated approximately 70 criminal cases against individuals and five criminal cases against corporate entities, leading to the arrest of more than a dozen individuals worldwide.
Furthermore, the task force has taken steps to seize around $700 million worth of assets, with the intention of ultimately transferring the funds to Ukraine or using them for aid. While the majority of the funds are still in the process of being forfeited, approximately $6 million has already been transferred to Ukraine.
In addition to these enforcement efforts, the Justice Department is set to unveil a new sanctions package against Russia, aimed at holding Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as for the death of opposition figure Alexey Navalny. The White House is expected to announce these new sanctions package on Friday.
Among the enforcement actions announced by the Justice Department, criminal charges were filed in a case involving a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch accused of conducting over $300 million in business in violation of US sanctions. The Department also filed a civil forfeiture complaint against two luxury condos in Miami, which are allegedly owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Perevalov.
Moreover, the Justice Department has initiated charges against another sanctioned Russian oligarch accused of laundering money to support two superyachts, as well as a dual Russian and Swiss national accused of concealing ownership of a luxury yacht in violation of US sanctions.
Overall, the Justice Department’s ramped-up efforts are aimed at disrupting the financial networks that have allowed Russian elites to continue to access western services and goods, with the ultimate goal of cutting off the flow of illegal funds fueling Putin’s war while supporting the Ukrainian people.