A russian citizen is accused of helping a sanctioned oligarch

A superseding indictment was unsealed today charging Alexey Komov, 53, of russia, with conspiracy and violations of U.S. sanctions arising from his assistance to sanctioned russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, who was previously charged with sanctions violations in April 2022.

As alleged, Komov conspired with Malofeyev to recruit and employ an American citizen, Jack Hanick, who worked for Malofeyev in launching and operating a television network in russia. Komov also conspired with Malofeyev, Hanick, and others to illegally transfer a $10 million investment that Malofeyev had made in a U.S. bank to a business associate in Greece, in violation of the sanctions blocking Malofeyev’s assets from being transferred.

“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,” said Co-Director Menno Goedman of Task Force KleptoCapture. “Task Force KleptoCapture will continue to disrupt schemes perpetrated by Komov and other sanction evaders, whenever and wherever they may hide.”

“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,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The unsealing today of the indictment against Komov is yet another reminder that this office will continue to hold those accountable that seek to undermine the United States’ national security goals.”

Source: U.S. Department of Justice