Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have Was accused Founder of a US-based cryptocurrency With the operation of the payment firm which they allege was that there was a sophisticated international money laundering scheme that moved to more than half a billion dollars from the approved Russian Banks and other institutions.

A 38 -year -old Russian National Iurii Gugnin, a 38 -year -old living in Manhattan, was arrested on Monday and ordered to be held without bail.

Guganin has faced a 22-fold prosecution, accusing him of wire and bank fraud, which violates US sanctions and export controls, has failed to implement money laundering, and legally required money laundering protocols.

Assistant Attorney General Eisenberg said in a statement, “The defendant is accused of converting a cryptocurrency company into a secret pipeline for dirty money, which is over half a billion dollars through the US financial system to assist the approved Russian banks and helps the Russian end user to acquire sensitive American technology.”

The prosecutors said that Guganin used his companies – Avita Investments and Avita Pay – – hiding the origin and objectives of the fund, processed about $ 530 million in payment. Between June 2023 and January 2025, he allegedly used money through American banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, mainly used Binding ropeA widely used, dollar-peg stabechoin.

Customers included individuals and businesses associated with approved Russian institutions such as Sberbank, VTB Bank, Sovcombank, Tinkoff, and state -owned nuclear power firm Rosatom.

To carry out the plan, Guganin allegedly presented the scope of his business wrong, calling the compliance document incorrect, and lied to banks and digital asset platforms about its relations with Russia. Prosecutors say they masked the source of money through shell accounts and challaned more than 80, digitally erased the identity of Russian counterparts.

Investigators cited internet discoveries indicated that he knew that he was subject to investigation, “how to know if there is an inquiry against you” and “money laundering fine we know how we know.”

The Department of Justice said that Guganin maintained a direct connection with members of Russia’s intelligence service and officials in Iran – countries that do not extradite in America

He is also accused of helping Russian customers in exporting sensitive American technology, including an anti-terrorism-controlled server.

Gugnin was finally kept in decline Wall Street Journal Article About high-net-forth rangers in Manhattan, where he allegedly paid $ 19,000 per month for an apartment.

If the bank is convicted on fraud charges, he has to face a 30 -year prison sentence, but if all the counts are convicted, the guggine may be continuously punished compared to his lifetime.