Alexander Vinnik is the alleged owner/operator of BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. He was transferred from Greece recently. Russian accused of laundering large amounts through now defunct trading platforms and other criminal acts, has rejected U.S. accusations.
Alexander Vinnik remains in California Prison. Russian Embassy Offers Assistance
Russian media reported that US authorities effectively refused to release Alexander Vinnik on bail. Russian media cited Vinnik’s record at Santa Rita Jail, California. Vinnik was in America since his extradition hasty from Greece just over a week ago. This angered his international defense teams.
The U.S. issued a warrant for the arrest of the crypto entrepreneur, in Thessaloniki in Greece. This was after he had been on vacation with his family. In late 2019, he was sent by Greece to France, where he received a five year sentence for money laundering. He was transferred to America by the U.S. in July after his request to leave France was withdrawn.
His lawyers protested against the decision to quickly hand him over to American authorities, pointing out that he had applied for asylum in Greece after previously warning that in the U.S. Vinnik is likely to become a “hostage” of the geopolitical clash surrounding the ongoing military conflict in NATO-supported Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian forces in February.
The information provided by the prison’s online inmate locator does not indicate whether the bail decision was made at the hearing on Friday, Aug. 5, when Vinnik appeared in a federal court in San Francisco, or if the judge has not yet considered the matter. A status check returns the short message “Cannot be released on bail (NO BAIL).”
Russian Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ to Crimes Alleged by US Prosecutors
Alexander Vinnik, who declared his innocence at the initial hearing and then pleaded guilty to it, was reported by Tass, which cited a spokesperson from the court. August 15th is the date for the next hearing.
According to the indictment, quoted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in last week’s announcement of his extradition, BTC-e processed transactions from a wide range of crimes, such as the Mt Gox hack, ransomware scams, and drug trade. In addition to other charges, Russians are now being charged with multiple money laundering counts for more than 4 billion.
Tass reported that Vinnik, the Russian Federation Embassy in Washington, was trying to contact Vinnik by phone. Nadezhda Shumova, who heads the mission’s Consular Department has been quoted as stating that Russian diplomats intend to provide all the needed consular and legal assistance to their compatriot.
Both Greece and France have ignored extradition requests filed by Russia, where he is accused of embezzlement of over 600,000 rubles (less than $10,000 at current exchange rates) and “fraud in the field of computer information” for 750 million rubles ($12 million). Vinnik has expressed in the past his desire to be returned to Russia and to face justice. This seems highly unlikely. However, the DOJ does not mention that he was accused of colluding with Russian intelligence.
Is Alexander Vinnik likely to be sentenced in the United States for money laundering? Please share your views in the comment section.
Image creditShutterstock. Pixabay. Wiki Commons. Russian Embassy in Greece
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