Swindlers in Anapa successfully embezzled 1.5 billion rubles by operating one-day corporations.
In the resort city of Anapa, Russia, Alexander Ivanov and Christina Kalidub have been found guilty of conducting illegal banking activities as part of an organized group. The guilty verdict was issued under points "a, b" of part 2 of article 172 and point "a" of part 3 of article 193.1 of the Russian Criminal Code.
From December 2012 to December 2013, Ivanov, Kalidub, and an unidentified individual operated an unregistered and unlicensed business, offering services similar to those provided by banks. More than 260 legal entities used their illegal services to obtain cash. The fake companies used by Ivanov and Kalidub had no real assets or business activity.
The illegal business provided services such as money transfers and cash management for clients. The money was laundered using fake documents. Over 400 million rubles were generated as illegal income, and more than 650 million rubles were illegally transferred through their operations.
Alexander Ivanov was sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony, with a fine of several million rubles. Christina Kalidub received a 3.5-year suspended sentence and a fine of 150,000 rubles. The specific unidentified individual involved in the illegal activities is not named in the report.
In addition to their prison sentences and fines, both Ivanov and Kalidub have been ordered to return the illegal income generated. Over 110 million rubles, held on frozen accounts of shell companies under their control, have been ordered to be transferred to the state treasury.
The civil lawsuit filed by the regional prosecutor in the interest of the state against Ivanov and Kalidub for the recovery of 7.8 million rubles in illegal banking income has been fully satisfied by the court.
This case underscores the Russian authorities' efforts to crack down on unauthorized financial operations that undermine the regulated banking system. The press service of the Krasnodar Regional Prosecutor's Office reported the court's orders regarding the funds transfer to the state treasury.
- The illegal activities conducted by Alexander Ivanov and Christina Kalidub, including their unregistered and unlicensed banking services, fall under the category of general-news and crime-and-justice, as they have been found guilty of money laundering and illegally managing over 400 million rubles.
- Despite receiving lenient prison sentences and fines, Ivanov and Kalidub have been ordered to return their illegal income, totaling over 110 million rubles, and the funds, held on frozen accounts of their shell companies, will be transferred to the state treasury, highlighting the Russian authorities' focus on combating unauthorized finance operations detrimental to the regulated banking system.
