Jonathan S. Kolodners practice focuses on white-collar criminal enforcement and regulatory matters as well as complex commercial litigation. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Based in the United States, Brayman and Yermolenko would fabricate shipping documents and invoices, repackaging and reshipping items to intermediate destinations around the worldincluding to Konoshchenok in Estoniabefore eventually arriving in Russia. [1] Indictment, U.S. v. Hytera Communications Corp., Ltd., et al., 20 CR 688 (N.D. Ill), available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1469761/download. A judge unsealed the FBI search warrant of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, which shows the Justice Department recovered 11 sets of classified documents. Alexey Brayman, a lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in New Hampshire, and Vadim Yermolenko, a U.S. citizen residing in New Jersey, were also arrested and charged as part of scheme. Danielle Blustein Hass Cal. The defendants, who were allegedly intelligence officers working on behalf of the Chinese government, allegedly orchestrated a scheme starting in 2019 to steal information from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which indicted Huawei and its subsidiaries for fraud and racketeering in 2019 and 2020. [2] Motorola Solutions Inc. v. Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd., et al., 1:17-cv-1972 (N.D. Ill); Motorola Solutions Inc. v. Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd., et al., 1:17-cv-1973 (N.D. Ill). The indictment sets forth the following factual allegations: Beginning in June 2007, the CEO of Hytera recruited Motorola engineers to steal trade secrets relating to Motorolas digital mobile radio (DMR) technology (AKA walkie-talkies). Konoshchenok was arrested separately by Estonian authorities on Dec. 6 at the request of the United States and is now pending extradition. The justice department unsealed the two cases just days after US president Joe Biden warned about "evolving intelligence" suggesting the Russian government is exploring options for more. If convicted, Watson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 37 years imprisonment. Even with all its redactions, the probable cause affidavit published today by the magistrate judge in Florida . Estonian authorities searched a warehouse used by Konoshchenok and recovered approximately 375 pounds worth of U.S.-origin ammunition. The Department of Justice building on Aug. 18. 18-457 (E.D.N.Y. Investment fraud undermines confidence in our nations markets and investors and makes it harder for honest businesses to compete. Charges in Connection with Task Force KleptoCaptures Mission to Hold Accountable Corrupt Russian Oligarchs and Enforce Robust Export Restrictions. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on the securities fraud scheme charge and 20 years in prison on each of the insider trading charges. David E. Brodskys practice focuses on securities enforcement, white-collar criminal defense and internal investigations. On or about February 2, 2021, Rao had a call with employees of the financial institution during which he impersonated a media executive from the online video service using a voice alteration application that he downloaded onto his cellular telephone to mask his voice during the call. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. Todays groundbreaking insider trading indictment demonstrates that the Department of Justice, together with our law enforcement partners, will not allow corrupt executives to misuse 10b5-1 plans as a shield for insider trading, said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. October 20, 2022 Updated: October 21, 2022. Attorneys Artie McConnell and Craig R. Heeren for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from Litigation Analyst Ben Richmond. St. Petersburg, Russia, SVETLANA SKVORTSOVA Mr. 07/29/2022 04:40 PM EDT TAMPA, Fla. The Justice Department on Friday unsealed an indictment in Tampa charging a Russian operative with conspiring to influence unnamed groups in Florida,. The official declined to say how the government was alerted to the individual ransomware attacks, however. The records listing evidence were made public on Tuesday after police arrested Bryan Kohberger at his parents' home in December. One indictment charged McGonigal and Sergey Shestakov with violating U.S. sanctions on Russia and conspiring to commit money laundering related to services for Oleg Deripaska. New Durham Indictments! On Thursday, federal prosecutors charged Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and 10 others with seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. None of them has been arrested, and officials admitted that U.S. law enforcement has few options available to detain them in person. Konoshchenok who is suspected to be an FSB officer would ship or physically smuggle U.S.-origin items from Estonia to Russia, including dual-use electronics, military-grade tactical ammunition and other export-controlled items. Had the full $45 million investment occurred as intended, $6million of the $45million would have been paid to Watson personally. The Department of Justice unsealed indictments against three North Korean hackers accused of stealing more than one billion in cryptocurrency, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The United States wishes to thank the Estonian Internal Security Service and the Prosecutor's Office for their support. Alexander Janghorbanis practice focuses on complex securities issues, litigation and enforcement, informed by nearly nine years of service with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Yermolenko and Brayman also helped Livshits set up and manage dozens of shell companies and corresponding bank accounts throughout the U.S. that were used in the scheme. Moreover, the Hytera indictment provides another example of how civil litigation may intertwine with criminal investigations into the same underlying conduct. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. During these discussions, the bank requested to speak to a representative of the cable network. A lock ( First Insider Trading Prosecution Based Exclusively on Use of Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans, Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud, www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-terren-s-peizer. The scheme relied in part upon BitLocker, a popular cybersecurity encryption product from Microsoft which is used by thousands of clients worldwide. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) levied sanctions against Serniya, Sertal, Yevgeniy Grinin and several companies used in the scheme, as well as multiple individuals affiliated with the network, including defendant Yevgeniy Grinin, calling them instrumental to the Russian Federations war machine., As alleged in the indictment, Sertal was licensed to conduct highly sensitive and classified procurement activities by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), Russias principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Unions KGB. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, John Marzulli However, the contract between Ozy and the shows cable network for the second season of the show was still under negotiation. Follow the latest live news . According to the indictment, the defendants unlawfully purchased and exported highly sensitive and heavily regulated electronic components, some of which can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and other military applications. Two Arrested and 13 Charged in Three Separate Cases for Alleged Participation in Malign Schemes in the United States on Behalf of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China (Department of Justice), Chinas Huawei Charged With Racketeering, Stealing Trade Secrets (Wall Street Journal), Canada Will Release Huawei Executive In Deal With U.S. (Forbes), Operation Fox Hunt: How China Exports Repression Using a Network of Spies Hidden in Plain Sight (ProPublica), Justice Department accuses China of spying on, intimidating dissidents living in U.S. (Reuters), This is a BETA experience. The indictment also alleges that a Hytera employee testified in the civil case that an individual defendant was fired in the fall of 2018 for refusing to cooperate with Hyteras internal investigation, when in fact [they] worked for Hytera from no later than December 2018, throughout the trial of the Civil Case, to at least June 22, 2020.. Ahmadi, Aghda and Ravari were among those sanctioned, and the two tech sanctioned companies are where the defendants work. According to a notice from the Treasury Department, this particular group of Iranians is not obviously aligned with one of the existing IRGC proxy gangs. Justice Is Coming! In the absence of updated, agreed upon cyber diplomacy norms at the United Nations, the White House has been handing down sanctions and indictments to send a clear message of what they think the norms should be. Currently there are 0 Indictments on the Indictments List. Elizabeth Vicens practice focuses on a broad spectrum of securities enforcement, investigations and compliance, as well as securities litigation, with a concentration in complex, cross-border issues. sanctioned the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. Between the lines: While the three defendants are being charged for engaging in criminal cyber activities, the senior DOJ official told reporters that cybercrime flourishes in nations that do not adhere to widely accepted norms.. 15220. Konoshchenok discussed fabricating business records with Livshits to conceal the ammunition shipments, on one occasion describing them as auto parts. Incident to Konoshchenoks arrest, Estonian authorities searched a warehouse used by Konoshchenok and recovered approximately 375 pounds worth of ammunition. As alleged, the defendants were affiliated with Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, Moscow-based companies that operate under the direction of Russian intelligence services to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment for Russias military industrial complex and research and development sector. in connection with the Motorola lawsuit. Published: 17 Feb 2021. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. In establishing his 10b5-1 plans, Peizer allegedly refused to engage in any cooling-off period the time between when he entered into the plan and when he sold stock despite warnings from two brokers. As alleged in the indictment, on Oct. 27, 2022, Konoshchenok was stopped at the Estonian border with 35 different types of semiconductors and other electronic components ordered by Livshits, as well as thousands of U.S.-made 6.5mm bullets, which are used in military sniper rifles. Our office will not rest in its vigorous pursuit of those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology to be used in furtherance of Russias brutal, continued attacks on democracy., From the outset of the Task Force, robust enforcement of U.S. export controls and restrictions on the transfer of sensitive technology has been a key strategic priority, said Task Force KleptoCapture Director Andrew C. Adams. Stunning New Intel! Additionally, a plan does not protect an executive if the trading plan was not entered into in good faith or was entered into as part of an effort or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1. Mountain View, California, OZY MEDIA, INC. 08/12/2022 04:15 PM EDT. Russia has shown it will use any means necessary to skirt our laws, including illegally procuring sensitive electronic components, for the purpose of bolstering its intelligence services and military wartime capabilities. During the call, Watson was in the same room as Rao, and texted Rao instructions about what to say and what not to say on the call. If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Sections Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. By exposing the defendants smuggling of ammunition and transfer of sensitive U.S. technologies from quantum computing to hypersonic weapons development the Department of Justice is holding accountable those who are fueling Russias unlawful and unprovoked aggression in Ukraine., The FBIs work, with our partners, to identify and stop illegal transfers of weapons and dual use-technology to Russia shows that we can and will reach around the world to keep Americans safe, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the United States would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. Nor would he reveal specifically which of the organizations that were targeted reached out to authorities and which did not. After the engineers allegedly accessed and downloaded thousands of sensitive files containing information on Motorolas DMR technology, they went to work for Hytera and helped the company develop DMR products that recycled the stolen Motorola technology. The DOJ is criminally investigating Trump for the removal of government records from the White House and possible obstruction of justice related to the lag . As part of its due diligence process, the financial institution asked Watson and Rao to arrange a meeting with someone from a well-known online video service that Watson and his co-conspirators claimed had paid Ozy nearly $6 million in licensing revenue for The Carlos Watson Show. This was another misrepresentation Ozy was never paid by this online video service for Ozy content. The indictment charges Hytera and the individual engineers with engaging in a conspiracy to misappropriate trade secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. Todays actions represent outstanding collaborative work by FBI New York and our partners who have relentlessly disrupted these illicit activities, a mission that has become increasingly more critical following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and sends a strong message to those who jeopardize the national security of the United States, stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Driscoll. The last of three federal indictments returned last month was unsealed yesterday, and all but one charged defendant have been taken . To induce the bank to make the loan sooner, Watson directed Ozys then-Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to send the bank a fake signed contract between Ozy and the cable network purporting to be for the second season. On Nov. 24, 2022, Konoshchenok was again stopped attempting to cross into Russia with approximately 20 cases containing thousands of U.S.-origin bullets, including tactical rounds and .338 military sniper rounds. Watson is also charged with aggravated identity theft for his role in the impersonation of multiple media company executives in communications with Ozys lenders and prospective investors in furtherance of the fraud schemes. Jonathan Kellys practice focuses on substantial English and international commercial litigation and arbitration. Attorney General Merrick Garland, center, flanked by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, left, and [+] FBI Director Christopher Wray, speaks to reporters at the Department of Justice in Washington on October 23. Serniya and Sertal operated a vast network of shell companies and bank accounts throughout the world, including the United States, that were used in furtherance of the scheme to conceal the involvement of the Russian government and the true Russian end users of U.S.-origin equipment. The indictment charged Vladimir Voronchenko, a Russian who is a permanent U.S. Fall trial planned for man charged with killing mom at sea By LISA RATHKE February 7, 2023 The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This is forging someones signature with the intent of getting an advance from a publicly traded bank. She continued, To be crystal clear, what you see as a measured risk I see as a felony.. Nastco. FBI Director Christopher Wray, speaks to reporters at the Department of Justice in Washington on October 23. 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