Task Force KleptoCapture

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Task Force KleptoCapture is a

Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2][3]

Background

Main articles:
United States and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Dating back to the outbreak of the

new sanctions against Russia
. Existing sanctions were also strengthened.

President Biden's statements during the 2022 State of the Union speech

During his State of the Union Address that same year, U.S. President Joe Biden announced this effort:

Tonight, I say to the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who’ve bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime: No more.

The United States — I mean it. The United States Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of the Russian oligarchs.

We're joining with European Allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets. We're coming for your ill-begotten gains.[4]

The day after Biden's speech,

Merrick B. Garland announced the formation of Task Force KleptoCapture, an inter-agency effort.[5][6]

Structure

The leader of the Task Force was initially described as "a veteran corruption prosecutor" from the

U.S. Deputy Attorney General's Office. On March 3, 2022, this prosecutor was revealed as Andrew Adams, who has previously worked as co-chief of the Southern District of New York's Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises. His previous work includes the prosecutions of thief in law Razhden Shulaya as well as the asset forfeiture case against Bitcoin money launderer Charlie Shrem.[7][8]

Others announced as part of the DOJ's team include deputy directors from the

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The attorneys listed on KleptoCapture court filings are some of the most experienced prosecutors in the Justice Department.[9][10]

In addition, was also announced as incorporating officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and United States Secret Service. The main goal of the task force is to impose the sanctions set against these Russian individuals to freeze and seize the assets that the U.S. government claimed were proceeds of their illegal involvement with the Russian government and the invasion of Ukraine.[11]

Activities

B-roll from seizure of $90M yacht of sanctioned Russian oligarch Vekselberg by Spain at U.S. request
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland announces the seizure of the motoryacht Tango

On March 11, 2022, United States President

Joseph R. Biden signed Executive Order 14068, "Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression," an order of economic sanctions prohibiting the trade in luxury goods.[citation needed
]

In tandem, the Treasury specifically designated assets of

U.S. Department of Justice estimate) to $120 million (from the website Superyachtfan.com).[13]

On March 25, 2022, an FBI Special Agent filed an affidavit in support of seizure of the Tango with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The affidavit warrant states probable cause to seize the Tango for suspect violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (conspiracy to commit bank fraud), 50 U.S.C. § 1705 (International Emergency Economic Powers Act), and 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (money laundering), and that the seizure is authorized by American statutes on civil and criminal asset forfeiture.[14][15]

On April 4, 2022,

the brave Ukrainian soldiers of Snake Island."[16]

The Civil Guard of Spain and U.S. federal agents of both the United States Department of Justice and United States Department of Homeland Security seized the Tango in Mallorca. A United States Department of Justice press release states that the seizure of the Tango was by request of Task Force KleptoCapture.[17][18][10]

On June 6, 2022, the United States was authorized to seize two of

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, working with Task Force KleptoCapture.[9][19]

On August 8, 2022, a U.S. federal magistrate judge signed an order authorizing the United States to seize the private airplane of

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York led this investigation in partnership with the KleptoCapture Task Force.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (March 2, 2022). "DOJ launches team to enforce sanctions on Russian oligarchs". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Strohm, Chris (March 2, 2022). "DOJ's 'KleptoCapture' Unit Will Target Russian Oligarchs". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Lynch, Sarah N. (March 2, 2022). "U.S. launches 'KleptoCapture' task force aimed at Russian oligarchs". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Biden, Joseph R. (March 1, 2022). President Biden's State of the Union Address (Speech). Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  5. ^ "Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Launch of Task Force KleptoCapture". Justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. March 2, 2022. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Visits Ukraine, Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Help Identify, Apprehend, and Prosecute Individuals Involved in War Crimes and Atrocities". www.justice.gov. June 21, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Former Ceo Of Bitcoin Exchange Company Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To Two Years In Prison For Helping To Sell Nearly $1 Million In Bitcoins For Drug Buys On Silk Road". Justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. December 9, 2014. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2022. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Adams of the Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit is in charge of the forfeiture aspects of the case"
  8. ^ Cohen, Luc; Lynch, Sarah N. (March 3, 2022). "Veteran U.S. prosecutor to lead task force probing Russian oligarchs". Reuters.com. Reuters. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "United States Obtains Warrant For Seizure Of Two Airplanes Of Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich Worth Over $400 Million". Justice.gov. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "$90 Million Yacht of Sanctioned Russian Oligarch Viktor Vekselberg Seized by Spain at Request of United States". Justice.gov. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Macias, Amanda; Schwartz, Brian (March 2, 2022). "Biden administration launches new 'KleptoCapture' task force to go after Russian oligarchs". CNBC. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Kremlin Elites, Leaders, Oligarchs, and Family for Enabling Putin's War Against Ukraine". Treasury.gov. United States Department of the Treasury. March 11, 2022. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  13. ^ https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy06502
  14. ^ "In the Matter of the Seizure of The Motor Yacht Tango, with International Maritime Organization Number 1010703". Justice.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  15. Recap (PACER current docket view
    Paid subscription required)
  16. Recap (PACER current docket view
    Paid subscription required)
  17. ^ "US seizes yacht owned by oligarch with close ties to Putin". AP NEWS. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "La Guardia Civil incauta en Mallorca el yate de un oligarca ruso reclamado por EEUU". GuardiaCivil.es (in Spanish). Guardia Civil. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. A BOEING 787-8 DREAMLINER AIRCRAFT, BEARING TAIL NUMBER P4-BDL AND MANUFACTURER SERIAL NUMBER 37306, AND A GULFSTREAM G650ER AIRCRAFT, BEARING TAIL NUMBER LX-RAY AND MANUFACTURER SERIAL NUMBER 6417". Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. ^ "United States Obtains Warrant for Seizure of Airplane of Sanctioned Russian Oligarch Andrei Skoch, Worth Over $90 Million". www.justice.gov. August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "United States Obtains Warrant For Seizure Of Airplane Of Sanctioned Russian Oligarch Andrei Skoch Worth Over $90 Million". www.justice.gov. August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.

External links

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