12.06.2025 11:26
US authorities have indicted Iurii Gugnin, a 38-year-old Russian national residing in New York, on a 22-count indictment alleging a massive $500 million money laundering scheme. This intricate operation, uncovered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), allegedly facilitated the circumvention of international sanctions imposed on Russian banks and entities. Gugnin's arrest on Monday marks a significant blow to efforts to combat illicit financial activities linked to Russia.
The indictment charges Gugnin, the founder of two New York-based cryptocurrency firms, Evita Investments Inc. and Evita Pay Inc., with orchestrating a complex network designed to launder vast sums of money through the US financial system. Specifically, the prosecution alleges he processed transactions for major sanctioned Russian banks, including Sberbank, VTB Bank, and Tinkoff Bank, between June 2023 and January 2025. These actions, according to the DOJ, directly aided sanctioned entities in evading international financial restrictions.
Further complicating the case, Gugnin himself reportedly maintained personal accounts with sanctioned banks such as JSC Alfa-Bank and Sberbank while living in the United States. This added layer of deception suggests a deeply embedded involvement within the sanctioned financial system. Moreover, prosecutors argue that these actions facilitated access for Russian clients to sensitive US technologies, including materials related to nuclear programs, thereby violating export controls.
The alleged scheme employed deceptive practices to mask its true nature. Gugnin is accused of deliberately misleading US banks, falsely claiming his companies had no connections to Russian or sanctioned entities. In reality, the indictment paints a picture of sophisticated money laundering involving substantial cryptocurrency transactions, primarily using Tether (USDT), routed through various wallets and US-based bank accounts before conversion to dollars and further processing through Manhattan financial institutions. The DOJ characterizes Gugnin's operation as a clandestine and elaborate undertaking designed to conceal illicit financial activity. The full extent of the operation's reach and impact remains under investigation.
