In early 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States accused Ivars Auzins (29) of fraud. According to the allegations, between November 2017 and July 2019 Auzins received more than $7 million to Auzins companies.
After receiving the funds (in cryptocurrencies), the companies disappeared without providing the services they said they would provide. On August 26, Auzins was extradited to the United States.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace and Michael J. Driscoll, acting assistant director of the FBI’s New York Field Office made the following statement:
“Auzins perpetrated a brazen scheme in which he defrauded investors who funneled millions of dollars into fraudulent cryptocurrency.
“This Office will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who lie and steal from investors, including those like the defendant who operate from abroad.”
Alexander Vinnik Extradited to the US
At the beginning of August Alexander Vinnik, the alleged operator of BTC-e was extradited from Greence to the United States. This may interest you : How United States Semiconductors Compete With China. Based on the allegations, Vinnik did business with drug dealers and ransomware hackers via the crypto exchange.
Vinnik was first arrested in Greece in 2017 on a US warrant. Greece approved the extradition, however, as a European arrest warrant was issued, Vinnik was sent to France.
He was sentenced to 5 years for money laundering, identity theft and extortion. On his return to Greece he was immediately boarded on another plane to the United States.
In July, the United States withdrew its request to extradite Vinnik, hoping that Greece would send the Russian to them upon his return (as the extradition was already approved by the Greek court).
Russia was outraged by Greece’s decision. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova released the following statement:
“We are outraged by the hostile actions of the Greek authorities, who, under pressure from the United States, who launched a real hunt for Russian citizens in third countries under implausible pretexts, extradited our compatriot Alexander Vinnik in retaliation of American punitive justice.
“In violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and against the official appeal of the Russian Embassy in Athens, the consular officers of the diplomatic mission, their lawyer and the “interpreter did not have permission to visit the Russian”.
In early 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States accused Ivars Auzins (29) of fraud. According to the allegations, between November 2017 and July 2019 Auzins received more than $7 million to Auzins companies.
After receiving the funds (in cryptocurrencies), the companies disappeared without providing the services they said they would provide. On August 26, Auzins was extradited to the United States.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace and Michael J. Driscoll, acting assistant director of the FBI’s New York Field Office made the following statement:
“Auzins perpetrated a brazen scheme in which he defrauded investors who funneled millions of dollars into fraudulent cryptocurrency.
“This Office will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who lie and steal from investors, including those like the defendant who operate from abroad.”
Alexander Vinnik Extradited to the US
At the beginning of August Alexander Vinnik, the alleged operator of BTC-e was extradited from Greence to the United States. See the article : Three ways the United States can prove it is investing in its relationship with the Caribbean. Based on the allegations, Vinnik did business with drug dealers and ransomware hackers via the crypto exchange.
Vinnik was first arrested in Greece in 2017 on a US warrant. Greece approved the extradition, however, as a European arrest warrant was issued, Vinnik was sent to France.
He was sentenced to 5 years for money laundering, identity theft and extortion. On his return to Greece he was immediately boarded on another plane to the United States.
In July, the United States withdrew its request to extradite Vinnik, hoping that Greece would send the Russian to them upon his return (as the extradition was already approved by the Greek court).
Russia was outraged by Greece’s decision. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova released the following statement:
“We are outraged by the hostile actions of the Greek authorities, who, under pressure from the United States, who launched a real hunt for Russian citizens in third countries under implausible pretexts, extradited our compatriot Alexander Vinnik in retaliation of American punitive justice.
“In violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and against the official appeal of the Russian Embassy in Athens, the consular officers of the diplomatic mission, their lawyer and the “interpreter did not have permission to visit the Russian”.
