Sergey Chemezov’s partner, co-founder of Yota-Phone, Sergey Adonyev (Sergei or Serguei Adoniev) was charged of conspiracy to commit a crime accusation in the US and pleaded guilty. See more: Citizen cocaine. What connects billionaire Sergei Adonyev, cocaine smuggling and Putin (The Insider).
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Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 1 of 13 Page ID #:7
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OCT 3 \ ^
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
\BV
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
June 1996 Grand Jury
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
CR 96-
P l a i n t i f f,
I N D I C T M E NT
V.
SERGUEI ADONIEV, and,
VITALY RASHKOVAN,
Defendants.
[18 U.S.C. § 371: Conspiracy
to Coimnit an Offense Against
the United States; 18 U.S.C. §
1343: Wire Fraud; 18 U.S.C. §
1957: Money Laundering; 18
U.S.C. § 2: Causing an Act to
Be Done and Aiding and
Abetting; 18 U.S.C. § 982:
Criminal F o r f e i t u r e]
The Grand Jury charges as f o l l o w s:
COUNT ONE
[18 U.S.C. § 371]
I. INTRODUCTORY ALLEGATIONS During the time relevant to t h is
indictment, in Los Angeles County, w i t h in the Central D i s t r i ct of
C a l i f o r n i a, and elsewhere:
The Republic of Kazakhstan
A. The Republic of Kazakhstan (“Kazakhstan”),
country in Central Asia, was, p r i or to i ts obtaininc
SGL
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 2 of 13 Page ID #:8
1 1991, one of the 15 republics of the Union of Soviet S o c i a l i st
2 Republics. As a landlocked country dominated by steppes and the
3 Karakum Desert, Kazakhstan depends on importation from other
4 countries f or many of i ts food s t a p l e s, i n c l u d i ng sugar, because
5 most of i ts minimal farmland is devoted to pasture.
6
B. Since gaining independence, the government of Kazakhstan
7 has attempted to s h i ft from a communist economy dependent on Moscow,
8 Russia, to an i n t e r n a t i o n a l, f r e e – e n t e r p r i se based economy. As p a rt
9 of t h is e f f o r t, the government of Kazakhstan established the
10
I n t e r n a t i o n al Center of Business Cooperation f or Kazakhstan and
11 Central Asia ( ” I n t e r n a t i o n al Center”), which, as an agent and
12
i n s t r u m e n t a l i ty of the government, s o l i c i ts and negotiates trade
13 agreements w i th f o r e i gn companies and investors. The I n t e r n a t i o n al
14 Center was run by V a s i l iy Krasnov.
15 The Defendants and Their Scheme to Defraud Kazakhstan
16
C. Defendants SERGUEI ADONIEV and VITALY RASHKOVAN,
17 unindicted co-conspirators Bakhytjan Oralbekov and Oleg Popov, who
18 is deceased, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, were
19 corporate o f f i c e rs employed at MEGABUCKS TRADING CORPORATION
20 (“MEGABUCKS”), an alleged import/export company located at 433 North
21 Camden Drive, Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n i a.
22
D. In e a r ly 1993, while working at MEGABUCKS, defendants
23 ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN, and u n i n d i c t ed co-conspirator Popov,
24 established a business c a l l ed METAL AND CRYSTAL WORKS (“MCW”) that
25 operated out of the MEGABUCKS o f f i c e s. Thereafter, defendants
26 ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN and t h e ir co-conspirators created a scheme to
27 defraud and o b t a in money by f a l se and fraudulent misrepresentations
28 in t h a t, under the name of MCW and using wire communications in
2
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 3 of 13 Page ID #:9
1
i n t e r s t a te and f o r e i gn commerce, they negotiated a fraudulent
2 c o n t r a ct w i th the government of Kazakhstan and the I n t e r n a t i o n al
3 Center whereby defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN and t h e ir co-
4 conspirators agreed, in exchange f or approximately $6.7 m i l l i on in
5 United States currency, to d e l i v er to Kazakhstan approximately
6 25,000 tons of Cuban sugar, which they knowingly n e i t h er had in
7 t h e ir possession nor could ever l e g a l l y, f i n a n c i a l ly or p r a c t i c a l ly
8
s e ll under the terms of the c o n t r a c t.
9
E.
Defendant ADONIEV and u n i n d i c t ed co-conspirators Popov and
10 Oralbekov were p r i m a r i ly responsible f or n e g o t i a t i ng the fraudulent
11 sugar c o n t r a ct w i th the government of Kazakhstan and the
12
I n t e r n a t i o n al Center, and defendant RASHKOVAN was p r i m a r i ly
13 responsible f or operating the MCW o f f i ce and p r o v i d i ng
14 a d m i n i s t r a t i ve support f or the scheme to defraud by f i l i ng the
15 i n c o r p o r a t i on papers f or MCW, s e t t i ng up and managing the bank
16 accounts, preparing needed documentation, and answering the
17
telephone.
18 I I. OBJECTS OF THE CONSPIRACY
19
On or before J u ly 13, 1993, and continuing to on or a f t er
20 October 26, 1993, in Los Angeles County, w i t h in the Central D i s t r i ct
21 of C a l i f o r n i a, and elsewhere, defendants SERGUEI ADONIEV and VITALY
22 RASHKOVAN, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury,
23 u n l a w f u l ly and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated and
24 agreed to commit wire fraud by knowingly devising and p a r t i c i p a t i ng
25 in a scheme to defraud and to o b t a in money by means of f a l se and
26 f r a u d u l e nt pretenses and representations and causing wire
27 communications in i n t e r s t a te and f o r e i gn commerce to be used in
28
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 4 of 13 Page ID #:10
1 execution of t h is scheme, a ll in v i o l a t i on of T i t le 18, United
2 States Code, Section 1343.
3
I I I. MEANS BY WHICH THE OBJECTS OF THE CONSPIRACY WERE TO BE
4
5
ACCOMPLISHED
A.
In order to achieve the objects of the conspiracy, between
6 about July 13, 1993, and about October 26, 1993, defendant ADONIEV
7 and unindicted co-conspirators Popov and Oralbekov, and others,
8 t r a v e l l ed to Kazakhstan on several occasions to negotiate a contract
9 to d e l i v er sugar w i th the government of Kazakhstan and the
10 I n t e r n a t i o n al Center. Under the terms of the contract f i n a l i z ed in
11 August, 1993, MCW agreed to s e ll 25,000 tons of Cuban sugar to
12 Kazakhstan f or approximately $6.7 m i l l i on in United States currency.
13 Under the agreement, the government of Kazakhstan would loan the
14 money to purchase the 25,000 tons of Cuban sugar to the
15 I n t e r n a t i o n al Center, which would in t u rn send the money in
16 i n s t a l l m e n ts by way of bank wire t r a n s f e rs from Kazakhstan to the
17 MCW bank account at Wells Fargo Bank, 9600 Santa Monica Boulevard,
18 Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n ia (account 0645-022278) (“MCW Wells Fargo
19 Bank account”). However, as defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN and
20
t h e ir co-conspirators w e ll knew when they contemplated, negotiated
21 and entered the c o n t r a c t, MCW was not in the business of s e l l i ng
22 sugar, and, furthermore, d id not have the l e g a l, f i n a n c i a l, or
23 p r a c t i c al a b i l i ty to obtain 25,000 tons of Cuban sugar under the
24 terms of the agreement, which at p r e v a i l i ng market rates would have
25 been w e ll in excess of $9,500,000.00.
26
B. In furtherance of the scheme to defraud, defendant ADONIEV
27 and RASHKOVAN and others sent, v ia co-conspirator Oralbekov,
28 approximately $650,000.00 from MCW in Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n i a, to
4
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 5 of 13 Page ID #:11
1 Vladimir Kroupenev, the personal a s s i s t a nt to the President of
2 Kazakhstan and a very i n f l u e n t i al government o f f i c i al in Kazakhstan
3 (the equivalent of the Chief of S t a ff in the United S t a t e s ), as a
4 bribe in order to ensure the success of the fraudulent scheme. The
5 money was sent to Kroupenev v ia an account in the name of
6 Mediterranean Trade Investment at the Scandinavian Bank, Stockholm,
7 Sweden, which account was c o n t r o l l ed by a casino located in Moscow,
8 Russia, and was owned and operated by associates of defendant
9 ADONIEV and co-conspirators Popov and Oralbekov. The money was then
10 personally d e l i v e r ed by co-conspirator Oralbekov to Kroupenev. In
11 exchange f or the money, Kroupenev repeatedly assured V a s i l iy Krasnov
12 of the I n t e r n a t i o n al Center and other government o f f i c i a ls t h at MCW
13 was a l e g i t i m a te company and t h at Kazakhstan should do business w i th
14 defendants ADONIEV, RASHKOVAN, and t h e ir co-conspirators.
15
C.
Having negotiated the fraudulent c o n t r a c t, defendants
16 ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN and t h e ir co-conspirators, between September
17 8, 1993, and October, 30, 1993, caused wire t r a n s f e rs t o t a l l i ng
18 approximately $4,040,780.00 in United States currency to be
19 t r a n s f e r r ed in i n t e r s t a te and f o r e i gn commerce from Kazakhstan to
20 Wells Fargo Bank, Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n i a, which money was
21 subsequently used by defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN to purchase
22 luxury automobiles and other expensive items f or personal
23 consumption, and which money was not used to buy and d e l i v er 25,000
24 tons of Cuban sugar.
25
D. In furtherance of the scheme to defraud, and in order to
26 respond to concerns raised by the government of Kazakhstan and the
27 I n t e r n a t i o n al Center t h at Kazakhstan had not received any sugar,
28 defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN ordered 1000 tons of sugar from
5
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 6 of 13 Page ID #:12
1 Sucden Kerry, a food broker in London, United Kingdom, worth
2 approximately $380,000.00, f or d e l i v e ry to Kazakhstan, which sugar
3 in f a ct came from a f a c t o ry w i t h in the country of Kazakhstan.
4 IV. OVERT ACTS
5
In order to carry out the objects of the conspiracy, defendants
6 ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN, along w i th others known and unknown to the
7 Grand Jury, committed and caused to be committed the f o l l o w i ng overt
8 acts, among others, in the Central D i s t r i ct of C a l i f o r n ia and
9 elsewhere:
10
1. On or about J u ly 13, 1993, defendant ADONIEV wrote a
11
l e t t er on MCW s t a t i o n a ry s t a t i ng t h at co-conspirator Oralbekov had
12 l e g al a u t h o r i ty to act on behalf of MCW.
13
2. In about J u l y, 1993, unindicted co-conspirator
14 Oralbecov met w i th o f f i c i a ls of the government of Kazakhstan on
15 behalf of MCW o f f e r i ng assistance in b r i n g i ng f o r e i gn investment to
16 Kazakhstan.
17
3. On or about August 17, 1993, defendant ADONIEV and
18 unindicted co-conspirator Popov checked in to Hotel Dostyk in Alma-
19 Ata, the c a p i t al of Kazakhstan.
20
4. On or about August 26, 1993, MCW entered i n to a
21 contract w i th the government of Kazakhstan and the I n t e r n a t i o n al
22 Center to supply 25,000 tons of Cuban sugar.
23
5. On or about August 28, 1993, defendant ADONIEV and
24 unindicted co-conspirator Popov checked out of Hotel Dostyk in Alma-
25 Ata, the c a p i t al of Kazakhstan.
26
6. On or about September 8, 1993, defendants ADONIEV and
27 RASHKOVAN received approximately $809,885.62 from Kazakhstan i n to
28 the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
6
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 7 of 13 Page ID #:13
1
7. On or about September 10, 1993, defendant ADONIEV
2 bought a Bentley automobile in Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n i a, f or
3 approximately $114,484.00 in proceeds obtained from the MCW Wells
4 Fargo Bank account.
5
8. On or about September 10, 1993, u n i n d i c t ed co-
6 conspirator Popov bought a Mercedes Benz automobile in Santa Monica,
7 C a l i f o r n i a, f or approximately $135,486.00 in proceeds obtained from
8 the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
9
9. On or about September 13, 1993, defendants ADONIEV
10 and RASHKOVAN received approximately $638,139.00 from Kazakhstan
11
i n to the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
12
10. On or about September 29, 1993, defendants ADONIEV
13 and RASHKOVAN received approximately $638,502.99 from Kazakhstan
14 i n to the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
15
11. On or about September 30, 1993, defendants ADONIEV
16 and RASHKOVAN received approximately $170,212.20 from Kazakhstan
17 i n to the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
18
12. On or about October 5, 1993, defendants ADONIEV and
19 RASHKOVAN received approximately $983,982.00 from Kazakhstan i n to
20 the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
21
13. On or about October 6, 1993, u n i n d i c t ed co-
22 conspirator Popov sent a l e t t er from MCW to the government of
23 Kazakhstan s t a t i ng t h at MCW was shipping 1000 tons of sugar from a
24 f a c t o ry in Kazakhstan.
25
14. On or about October 7, 1993, defendants ADONIEV and
26 RASHKOVAN received approximately $300,000.00 from Kazakhstan i n to
27 the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
28
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 8 of 13 Page ID #:14
1
15. On or about October 15, 1993, defendant ADONIEV
2 bought a Jeep u t i l i ty v e h i c le in Los Angeles, C a l i f o r n i a, f or
3 approximately $29,711.00 in proceeds obtained from the MCW Wells
4 Fargo Bank account.
5
16. On or about October 15, 1993, defendant RASHKOVAN
6 withdrew approximately $18,000.00 in proceeds from the MCW Wells
7 Fargo Bank account.
8
17. On or about October 18, 1993, defendants ADONIEV and
9 RASHKOVAN caused a L e t t er of Credit f or approximately $373,680.00 to
10 be sent from Barclays Bank, London, United Kingdom, to Sucden Kerry
11 f or payment of shipment of 1000 tons of sugar to Kazakhstan.
12
18. On or about October 19, 1993, defendant RASHKOVAN
13 sent a l e t t er from MCW to the M i n i s t er of Trade in Kazakhstan
14 s t a t i ng t h at sugar was on i ts way to Kazakhstan.
15
19. On or about October 20, 1993, defendant RASHKOVAN
16 bought a Lambhorgini automobile from Beverly H i l ls Rolls Royce f or
17 approximately $202,018.00 in proceeds obtained from the MCW Wells
18 Fargo Bank account.
19
20. On or about October 26, 1993, defendants ADONIEV and
20 RASHKOVAN received approximately $500,000.00 from Kazakhstan i n to
21 the MCW Wells Fargo Bank account.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
8
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 9 of 13 Page ID #:15
1
2
3
4
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8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
COUNTS TWO THROUGH THIRTEEN
[18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1343]
THE SCHEME TO DEFRAUD
The Grand J u ry r e p e a ts and r e a l l e g es each of t he a l l e g a t i o ns
c o n t a i n ed in S e c t i o ns I t h r o u gh IV s et f o r th above in Count One as
d e s c r i b i ng t he manner and means by which defendants ADONIEV and
RASHKOVAN, and o t h e rs known and unknown to t he Grand J u r y, d e v i s ed
and i n t e n d ed to d e v i se a scheme and a r t i f i ce to d e f r a ud t he R e p u b l ic
of Kazakhstan and f or o b t a i n i ng monies and p r o p e r ty by means of
f a l se and f r a u d u l e nt p r e t e n s e s, r e p r e s e n t a t i o ns and promises.
THE WIRE TRANSFERS
On or about t he d a t es s et f o r th below, in Los Angeles County,
w i t h in t he C e n t r al D i s t r i ct of C a l i f o r n i a, and elsewhere, defendants
ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN, and o t h e rs known and unknown to t he Grand
J u r y, f or t he purpose of c a r r y i ng o ut and a i d i ng and a b e t t i ng t he
f r a u d u l e nt scheme d e s c r i b ed above, caused t he f o l l o w i ng s i g n s,
s i g n a ls and sounds to be t r a n s m i t t ed by means of w i r e, r a d i o, and
t e l e v i s i on communication in i n t e r s t a te and f o r e i gn commerce:
19
COUNT
DATE
FROM
TO
WIRE COMMUNICATION
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
9/8/93
Kazakhstan W e l ls Fargo Bank Wire t r a n s f er in
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
amount of
$809,885.62
9/15/93
MCW
Mediterranean
Trade Investment amount of
Stockholm,
Sweden
$100,000.00
Wire t r a n s f er in
9/13/93
Kazakhstan W e l ls Fargo Bank Wire t r a n s f er in
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
amount of
$638,139.00
9/28/93
MCW
Mediterranean
Trade Investment amount of
Stockholm,
Sweden
$180,000.00
Wire t r a n s f er in
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 10 of 13 Page ID #:16
1
COUNT
DATE
FROM
TO
WIRE COMMUNICATION
2
6
9/29/93
Kazakhstan
W e l ls Fargo Bank
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$638,502.99
3
4
5
9/30/93
Kazakhstan
Wells Fargo Bank
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$170,212.20
6
8
10/8/93
MCW
10/5/93
Kazakhstan
10
10/7/93
Kazakhstan
11
10/8/93
MCW
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
12
10/15/93 MCW
13
10/26/93 Kazakhstan
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Mediterranean
Trade Investment
Stockholm,
Sweden
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$120,000.00
W e l ls Fargo Bank
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$983,982.00
Wells Fargo Bank
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$300,000.00
Mediterranean
Trade Investment
Stockholm,
Sweden
Mediterranean
Trade Investment
Stockholm,
Sweden
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$120,000.00
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$250,000.00
Wells Fargo Bank
B e v e r ly H i l l s,
C a l i f o r n ia
Wire t r a n s f er in
amount of
$500,000.00
10
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 11 of 13 Page ID #:17
1
2
3
4
COUNTS FOURTEEN THROUGH TWENTY
[18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1957]
THE SCHEME TO DEFRAUD
The Grand Jury repeats and realleges each of the a l l e g a t i o ns
5 contained in Sections I through IV set f o r th above in Count One as
6 d e s c r i b i ng the manner and means by which defendants ADONIEV and
7 RASHKOVAN, and Others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, devised
8 and intended to devise a scheme and a r t i f i ce to defraud the Republic
9 of Kazakhstan and f or o b t a i n i ng monies and property by means of
10
f a l se and f r a u d u l e nt pretenses, representations and promises.
11
12
THE MONEY LAUNDERING
On the dates set f o r th below, defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN,
13 and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, in Los Angeles
14 County, w i t h in the Central D i s t r i ct of C a l i f o r n i a, and elsewhere,
15 knowing t h at the property involved in the monetary transactions
16 represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful a c t i v i t y, and
17 which property was, in f a c t, the proceeds of a scheme to defraud in
18
v i o l a t i on of T i t le 18, United States Code, Section 1343 as described
19 above, knowingly and w i l l f u l ly conducted, attempted to conduct, and
20 aided, abetted, counselled, commanded, induced, and procured the
21 f o l l o w i ng monetary transactions a f f e c t i ng i n t e r s t a te and f o r e i gn
22 commerce, in t h at defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN caused to be
23 deposited wire t r a n s f e rs in the f o l l o w i ng approximate amounts, the
24 proceeds of which had been generated by the above-described scheme
25 to defraud, i n to the MCW bank account at Wells Fargo Bank, 9600
26 Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n ia (account 0645-
27 022278):
28
11
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 12 of 13 Page ID #:18
1 COUNT
DATE
AMOUNT OF DEPOSIT
2 14
3
15
4 16
5
17
6 18
7 19
8 20
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
9/8/93
$809,885.62
9/13/93
$638,139.00
9/29/93
$638,502.99
9/30/93
$170,212.20
10/5/93
10/7/93
$983,982.00
$300,000.00
10/26/93
$500,000.00
12
Case 2:96-cr-00977-RAP Document 1 Filed 10/31/96 Page 13 of 13 Page ID #:19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
COUNT TWENTY-ONE
[18 U.S.C. § 982]
Upon c o n v i c t i on f or the offenses charged in counts fourteen
through twenty, defendants ADONIEV and RASHKOVAN s h a ll f o r f e it to
the United States, pursuant to T i t le 18, United States Code, Section
982, a ll property, r e al or personal, involved in each said offense
and a ll property traceable to such property, i n c l u d i ng but not
l i m i t ed to a ll deposited funds and a ll i n t e r e st and proceeds
traceable t h e r e to c r e d i t ed to account number 0645-022278 at Wells
Fargo Bank, 9600 Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n i a,
and a ll accounts in the name of MCW at M e r r i ll Lynch, 468 North
12
Camden Drive, Beverly H i l l s, C a l i f o r n i a.
A TRUE BILL
M. MANELLA
es Attorney
Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Criminal D i v i s i on
JAMES P. WALSH
Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Organized Crime and Racketeering S t r i ke Force
13
14
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