Feds move to seize Russian oligarch’s six properties worth $75M

On the anniversary of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, federal prosecutors moved to seize six luxury properties in the Hamptons, New York City and Miami Beach owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Vekselberg, a Vladimir Putin ally and head of metals and energy conglomerate Renova Group, is one of the Russian oligarchs the U.S. re-sanctioned after the Russian invasion. Federal authorities claim in an unsealed complaint filed the Southern District of New York that Vekselberg and associate Vladimir Voronchenko used the six properties to launder money and evade sanctions.

Federal agents and NYPD detectives in September searched Vekselberg’s properties at 19 Duck Pond Lane, Southampton, New York; 515 Park Avenue, Units 21 and 2I, New York, New York; 7183 Fisher Island Drive, Units 7182 and 7183, Miami Beach, Florida; and 7002 Fisher Island Drive, Unit 7002 PH2, Miami Beach. 

The properties, which Vekselberg acquired between 2008 and 2017, are worth $75 million, according to federal authorities. 

In 2018, the Treasury Department placed Vekselberg on its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, freezing his assets and prohibiting him from doing business with U.S. residents and companies. Vekselberg was redesignated a Specially Designated National in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Voronchenko tried to sell the Park Avenue apartments jointly in 2020 and the Southampton estate in 2022, listing both for $14.6 million, federal authorities claim.

Federal prosecutors also claim Voronchenko, through Vekselberg, funneled $4 million in wire transfers to maintain four of the properties, including paying for common charges, insurance premiums, electric bills, pool bills, landscaping and gardening bills, gas bills, common charges, and pest control bills. 

Voronchenko fled to Russia in May 2022, nine days after federal agents served him with a grand jury subpoena. He failed to appear before the grand jury and has not returned to the U.S. Earlier this month, Voronchenko was indicted on money laundering, conspiracy to evade sanctions and contempt charges.

“Over the past year, the Ukrainian people have shown the world what courage looks like,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. “For as long as it takes, the Department of Justice will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Ukrainian and international partners in defense of justice and the rule of law.”