Justice Dept. Indicts Couple with Violating U.S. Sanctions on Russia

On Sept. 5, the Justice Department unsealed two indictments against a Virginia couple for violating U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia. Russian nationals Dmitri and Anastasia Simes allegedly participated in two separate schemes to violate U.S. sanctions.

According to the first indictment, both Dimitri and Anastasia Simes “engaged in a scheme” to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by “providing services to and for the benefit of, and receiving funds from” Channel One Russia—a Russian state-owned television network sanctioned by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. They have both been charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the IEEPA, one count of violating the IEEPA, and one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

The couple allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to benefit the sanctioned Russian network, and in return, received more than “$1 million, a personal car and driver, a stipend for an apartment in Moscow, Russia, and a team of 10 employees from Channel One Russia following its designation by OFAC.” 

The second indictment, which charges only Anastasia Simes, accuses her of participating in another scheme to violate IEEPA by “providing services to and for the benefit of, and receiving funds from” sanctioned Russian oligarch Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Udodov. More specifically, the indictment alleges that Anastasia Simes provided “goods and services to Udodov by purchasing antiques and artwork” in the U.S. and Europe, and arranging for the items to be shipped to her residence—which she shares with her husband—in Huntly, Virginia, to store them for Udodov. In return, the sanctioned oligarch sent Anastasia Simes reimbursements for her purchases in addition to a five percent service fee. According to the second indictment, the Justice Department charged Anastasia Simes with one count of conspiracy to violate the IEEPA, one count of violating the IEEPA, and one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

You can read the first indictment here or below:

And you can read the second indictment here or below: