Russian IT specialist Alexander Vinnik, accused of proudly owning and working the notorious crypto alternate BTC-e, has been handed over to the U.S. This week, Greek authorities proceeded with the extradition, after his return from France, regardless of Vinnik’s protection protesting the transfer and calling the case a “judicial, diplomatic and humanitarian scandal.”
Vinnik Seems in San Francisco Federal Court docket to Face Cash Laundering Costs
The presumed co-founder and operator of the infamous crypto alternate BTC-e, Alexander Vinnik, was extradited from Greece to america on Thursday. The Russian nationwide is going through expenses in the Northern District of California and has already appeared in federal court docket in San Francisco, the U.S. Division of Justice introduced Friday. Assistant Legal professional Basic Kenneth A. Well mannered, Jr. of the division’s Legal Division, was quoted as stating:
After greater than 5 years of litigation, Russian nationwide Alexander Vinnik was extradited to america yesterday to be held accountable for working BTC-e, a felony cryptocurrency alternate, which laundered greater than $four billion of felony proceeds.
The 42-year-old Vinnik was arrested whereas on trip in the Greek metropolis of Thessaloniki in the summer season of 2017 on a U.S. warrant. He had been charged by American prosecutors in a 21-count superseding indictment in January of that yr. Greece authorized an extradition request filed by america however despatched him first to France in December 2019, below a European arrest warrant.
A French court docket sentenced the Russian crypto entrepreneur to 5 years in jail for cash laundering, and he just lately served his time period, bearing in mind his pre-trial detention. In France, he was additionally charged with identification theft and extortion. In July, U.S. authorities withdrew a request to get the Russian straight from France in an apparent try to hurry up his switch via Greece, which had already authorized his extradition to america.
In keeping with the U.S. indictment, the now-defunct BTC-e was a “important cybercrime and on-line cash laundering entity that allowed its customers to commerce in bitcoin with excessive ranges of anonymity and developed a buyer base closely reliant on felony exercise.” It alleges the alternate facilitated world cybercrime transactions, receiving proceeds from a variety of crimes, such because the Mt Gox hack, ransomware scams, and even drug commerce.
BTC-e and Vinnik have been charged with one rely of operation of an unlicensed cash service enterprise in the U.S., and one rely of conspiracy to commit cash laundering as effectively. The Russian can be going through 17 counts of cash laundering and two counts of partaking in illegal financial transactions. The Justice Division famous his platform had no system for know-your-customer verification and no anti-money laundering program as required by federal regulation.
Russia, Lawyer Model Vinnik’s US Extradition ‘Abduction’ and ‘Violent Disappearance’
Chatting with the Russian information company Tass, Vinnik’s French lawyer Frederic Belot confirmed his defendant had been handed over to US custody, upon his return from France below the choice by the Investigation Chamber of the Paris Court docket of Appeals from Thursday morning. “He was instantly transferred to a different aircraft that flew to america. The aircraft landed in Boston after which flew to San Francisco,” Belot defined.
“Alexander Vinnik, who ought to be free based mostly on three choices by the French justice, was transferred yesterday as a prisoner to Greece and there he was actually ‘loaded’ on a personal aircraft to the USA, with out being allowed, as he requested and whereas in search of asylum, to have entry to an interpreter, to me as his lawyer,” Zoe Konstantopoulou, who has been representing him in Greece and France, mentioned quoted by the Greek newspaper Ethnos.
Konstantopoulou just lately shared her fears that the Russian might be held by the U.S. as a “hostage” of the continuing navy battle in NATO-supported Ukraine, the place Moscow is waging a full-scale conflict since late February, introduced as a “particular navy operation” in protection of the Russian-speaking inhabitants. Western governments have chosen to disregard Russia’s personal requests for Vinnik’s extradition.
The IT professional, who has denied the U.S. allegations and maintained his innocence, has beforehand expressed his will to return to his homeland and seem earlier than court docket there. In Russia he’s charged with embezzlement of greater than 600,000 rubles (near $10,000) and “fraud in the sector of pc data” for 750 million rubles ($12.three million).
Whereas the U.S. Justice Division thanked the Greek authorities and justice ministry “for all their efforts in securing the defendant’s switch to america,” the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Overseas Affairs Maria Zakharova acknowledged that Moscow is “outraged by the unfriendly actions of the Greek authorities” and accused Washington of conducting a “actual hunt for Russian residents,” calling Vinnik’s hasty extradition an “abduction.” Whereas not talked about in the DOJ announcement, the proprietor of BTC-e is suspected of getting collaborated with Russian intelligence, too.
In her feedback, Zoe Konstantopoulou described the case as a multi-year “judicial, diplomatic, intergovernmental scandal,” whereas referring to his extradition as a “violent disappearance from Greek territory” which “constitutes a Mafia technique and a felony act… a severe violation of worldwide regulation and Greek laws,” dedicated with the participation of two international states. Vinnik sought asylum in Greece and his protection crew has been attempting to additionally safe a launch on humanitarian grounds. His spouse died in 2020 and their two sons are actually rising up with out mother and father.
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