New York Attorney Pleads Guilty to Helping Sanctioned Russian Oligarch Hide Assets

New York attorney Robert Wise pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit international money laundering by making nearly $4 million in payments to maintain six properties in the U.S. owned by sanctioned oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.
Wise violated U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia for invading Ukraine by using shell companies to hide Vekselberg's ownership of properties worth $75 million.
Vekselberg was sanctioned in 2018 for Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Wise made payments for taxes, insurance, and maintenance on Vekselberg's Manhattan apartments, Hamptons estate, and superyacht.
Prosecutors are cracking down on Russian oligarchs and their enablers who help them evade sanctions by hiding assets in Western countries.