DOJ targets Russian sanctions evasion with charges against two individuals
US authorities have unveiled charges in two separate cases targeting Russian sanctions evasion schemes, with indictments unsealed against a Russian national who aided a sanctioned oligarch and a freight forwarding manager who allegedly facilitated illegal exports to Russia.
Alexey Komov, 53, was charged with helping sanctioned oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev violate US sanctions through schemes involving an American television network employee and illegal asset transfers, according to a 12 December DOJ announcement. Separately, Natalya Ivanovna Mazulina, 41, was arrested in Seattle on 10 December for allegedly facilitating unlawful shipments of controlled industrial equipment to Russia.
‘As alleged, Mazulina used her position as a manager of a freight forwarding company to facilitate unlawful exports to Russia through JFK airport,’ said US Attorney Breon Peace, noting that she allegedly told colleagues her clients were using third-country bank accounts because they were ‘currently sanctioned’ in the US.
Komov allegedly assisted Malofeyev in employing US citizen Jack Hanick for a Russian television project and helped transfer a $10 million US investment to a Greek associate in violation of sanctions blocking Malofeyev’s assets.
‘The indictment alleges 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 Task Force KleptoCapture Co-Director Menno Goedman.
Both cases involve maximum penalties of 20 years per count. While Komov remains at large in Russia, Mazulina faces multiple charges including conspiracy to export controlled goods, money laundering, and filing false export documents. The US previously seized $5.4 million related to Malofeyev’s Texas bank investment, which was transferred to support Ukrainian veterans.
