WASHINGTON — Federal officials closed Tuesday the D.C. home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, one of several Russian tycoons and government officials sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2018 for furthering the “malicious activities” of the Putin regime.
A law enforcement official confirmed the FBI’s presence, but declined to elaborate on the nature of the action.
NBC News first reported the development.
A close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Deripaska was included in a Treasury enforcement notice because “investigated for money laundering, and … illegally threatening the lives of business rivals, a government official.” He was charged with wiretapping and participating in extortion and looting.”
US imposes new sanctions on 7 Russian oligarchs and 17 government officials
US releases ‘Putin List’ of Russian politicians, oligarchs
According to the Treasury notice, “there are also allegations that Deripaska bribed a government official, ordered the murder of a businessman, and had ties to a Russian organized crime group,” which also included six other oligarchs, a dozen companies he controlled and 17 senior Russian government officials.
Deripaska also emerged as a figure in the lawsuit of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, whose deep financial ties with the aluminum magnate raised questions about the campaign’s affiliation with Russia.
In 2016, Manafort reportedly offered private briefings on Deripaska’s race.
“If he needs a private briefing we can accommodate,” The Washington Post reported in 2017, citing Manafort’s email correspondence.
Manafort, who was indicted on federal financial fraud charges, was eventually pardoned by Trump in the final weeks of his administration.
