Justice Dept indicts Russian oligarch accused of violating U.S. sanctions, a first since Russia invaded Ukraine
CBSN
Washington — A Russian oligarch and media executive has been charged for violating U.S. sanctions in an alleged scheme that involved hiring an American citizen to both run a Russian cable news network and secretly transfer a $10 million investment out of the U.S., the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
Konstantin Malofeyev is accused of employing an American television producer, Jack Hanick, who was indicted last month on sanctions violations, to help create the Russian TV Network in 2013. Malofeyev allegedly paid Hanick through Russian entities until the end of 2018, according to investigators, and provided him with housing in Moscow. The Justice Department also alleged Malofeyev sent Hanick to Greece and Bulgaria between 2015 and 2016, in hopes of creating and then managing other television networks.
In 2014, Malofeyev was sanctioned by the U.S. for financing and promoting the separatist movement in Crimea. This designation both froze his assets and made it illegal for anyone to do business with him.
