Indictment accuses Russian oligarchs of taking bribes and obtaining cannabis license in Nevada

A conspiracy whirlwind spanning multiple states points to a conspiracy to alter elections and illegally obtain cannabis licenses in Nevada and elsewhere.

According to an indictment unsealed to the public by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on March 14, a Russian oligarch colluded with American officials to allegedly illegally obtain a cannabis license in Nevada. According to the federal prosecutor’s office, the crimes are illegal campaign donations.

Andrey Muraviev – who happens to be a Russian oligarch – was charged in 2018 with violating federal campaign finance laws. Muraviev is accused of illegally channeling donations to former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt – with the benefit of obtaining an adult cannabis business license in Nevada. Laxalt has previously been accused of bribery.

The news comes at a time when companies of all kinds are cutting ties with Russian oligarchs, albeit for a different reason, as the Ukraine conflict heats up.

Muraviev is accused of conspiring with Lev Parnas, Ukrainian-born Andrey Kukushkin and Igor Fruman and others, all of whom have been convicted in court or have pleaded guilty.

The five are accused of conspiring to get $1 million from Muraviev and then making political campaign donations to scrape back political candidates who could in turn pull strings to help Muraviev and fellow conspirators get licenses .

A representative from the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) told the High Times that they just discussed this particular issue at a board meeting that took place last December. “Muraviev was a lender and a creditor, and it is the board’s responsibility to know where the funds are going,” Chairman Dennis Neilander said at a December 14 meeting of the Cannabis Compliance Board. “In this case, the funds came from an individual who is known to have been in league with some other individuals who committed serious crimes.” Most board members agreed.

The Miami Herald reports that the conspiracy involved securing cannabis licenses in several states, but ultimately fizzled after Parnas and Fruman and two other associates failed to submit the required paperwork in time to obtain licenses in Nevada and elsewhere.

Muraviev became wealthy as CEO of a Russian cement company and through his interests in Russian online payments company QIWI. He had already invested in several cannabis operations in California before merging with Parnas and Fruman.

Muraviev is believed to be in Russia and remains at large, prosecutors said.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1483151/download

Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, deputy executive director of the New York Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced the unsealing in a press release.

“As alleged, Andrey Muraviev, a Russian citizen, attempted to influence the 2018 election by conspiring to funnel $1 million of his foreign funds to candidates and campaigns,” said Michael J. Driscoll, deputy chief of the FBI . “He has tried to corrupt our political system to further his business interests. The Southern District of New York is committed to weeding out efforts by foreigners to disrupt our elections.”

The actions show that federal prosecutors will not condone illegal donations aimed at rigging elections.

FBI Assistant Acting Director Michael J. Driscoll agreed, saying, “As alleged, Muraviev, a Russian foreigner, made illegal political donations and conspired with Parnas, Kukushkin and Fruman to conceal their true source. The money that Muraviev injected into our political system was allegedly aimed at politicians whose views favored his business interests and those of his co-conspirators. As today’s action demonstrates, we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone attempting to illegally influence our country’s elections.”

The Nevada Independent reports that Parnas was found guilty of six counts last October for pouring money into US election campaigns, and Laxalt testified at the trial, saying Parnas promised to hold a fundraiser that never happened.

Fruman pleaded guilty to illegal foreign campaign contributions last September.