The man who is Putin’s ally in Ukraine has nets British man with indictment
The U.K. national was arrested today for conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions imposed on Russian Oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska and wire fraud in connection with funding U.S. properties purchased by Deripaska and attempts to repatriate his artwork to the United States through misrepresentations. It is believed that the U.S. government will seek his extradition to the United States. Deripaska was previously charged with U.S. sanctions violations in an indictment unsealed on September. 29.
In 2014, the President issued Executive Order 13660, which declared a national emergency respect to the circumstances in Ukraine. To address this national emergency the President halted all assets belonging to individuals deemed as such by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to be responsible or complicit in actions or policies which threaten the sovereignty, security or integrity territorial of Ukraine, or who materially aid, support or support individuals or entities engaging in such actions. Executive Order 13660 as well as the regulations made pursuant to it ban the transfer or receipt of funds products or services, to, from or for the benefit of any person designated by the U.S. Treasury.
On April 6 on the 6th of April, 2018 The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified Deripaska as a Specially Designed National (SDN), as a result of its conclusion that the actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation in relation to Ukraine are an extraordinary and significant threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy (the OFAC Sanctions). As per the U.S. Treasury, Deripaska was sanctioned for acting or claimed to have acted on behalf of either directly or in indirect ways, a high employee of the Government of the Russian Federation, and for operating in the sector of energy in the Russian Federation economy.
According to court documents, Graham Bonham Carter, 62, from his native United Kingdom, worked for the Deripaska-controlled entities from July 2003 through the current. Among other things Bonham-Carter was the manager of Deripaska’s home properties within both the United Kingdom and Europe, including a home located in Belgravia Square, London. Even after OFAC declared Deripaska, Bonham-Carter continued to be employed by Deripaska and even refer the name of Deripaska as his “boss.” For example, in an email dated around June 18 in 2018, Bonham-Carter wrote: “Times a bit tough for my boss as sanctions have hit him from the USA so not an ideal time.” In an email that was sent around Oct. 13, 2021 Bonham-Carter said “It[‘]s everything is fine, apart the fact that banks continue to shut me out because of my affiliation with my boss Oleg Deripaska …. I’ve even been told not to go to the USA because Oleg is still under personal sanctions because the authorities will undoubtedly pull me off the beaten path and ask me questions that could last hours or even days! !”
As alleged in the indictment, after Deripaska’s naming, Bonham-Carter took part in more than $1 million in illegal transactions to fund real estate properties within the United States for Deripaska’s benefit. In the period between 2005 and around the year 2008 Deripaska bought three properties for residential use within the United States, two in New York City and one in Washington, D.C. (the U.S. Properties). The properties were administered by a firm called Gracetown Inc. After OFAC was able to impose sanctions on Deripaska on or about April 6 on or about April 6, the 6th of April, Gracetown Inc. continued to manage the properties Deripaska’s benefit. Following Deripaska’s appointment, Deripaska instructed Bonham-Carter to establish a new business for managing the properties of Deripaska. Around May 25 2018 Bonham-Carter sent in an email that “OVD [i.e., Deripaska] wants me to set up my own company to run the [Belgravia Square] house and to possibly include Japan, Italy, China and more.” A little less than two months later, or around July 17 in 2018, Bonham-Carter was incorporated as GBCM Limited.
Between in or about March 2021 until about the end of December 2021 while under the direction of Deripaska Bonham-Carter transferred payments to maintenance for the U.S. Properties. Bonham-Carter transferred payments of $1,043,964.30 from an account at a bank in Russia held in the name of GBCM Limited, to bank accounts held by Gracetown Inc. in New York City. Gracetown Inc. used the money from GBCM Limited to pay for various expenses related to its U.S. Properties, including the salaries of staff, property taxes and other services as well as to maintain and maintain its U.S. Properties.
As alleged, Bonham-Carter also attempted to transfer illegally artwork bought through Deripaska from an auction house that was located in New York City to London by omitting the ownership of Deripaska of the work. In May 2021 when the auction house was advised that there was a reason to believe the artwork was owned by Deripaska, Bonham-Carter falsely stated that the art work and a payment of $12,146 which Bonham-Carter was able to make to send the Artwork did not belong to Deripaska. In reality, as Bonham-Carter knew, Deripaska had purchased the artwork, and it became his property, and the money that were used to pay for shipping would be invoiced to Deripaska.
Bonham-Carter is accused in a 3-count indictment. It includes one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), one count of violating IEEPA and one count wire fraud, each of which charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines as well as other statutory elements.
Task Force KleptoCapture Director Andrew C. Adams, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York and Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The FBI New York Field Office and Counterintelligence Division are investigating the case, and have valuable assistance provided by The Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. In addition, the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom offered substantial assistance.