RT.com
05 Aug 2022, 14:15 GMT+10
Crypto businessman Aleksandr Vinnik has been taken from Greece to the US in what his family described as an "abduction"
A Russian crypto entrepreneur accused by the US of laundering billions of dollars has apparently been handed over to American custody by Greece, days after Athens secured his extradition from France. Aleksandr Vinnik's family said on Friday that he had been taken to Boston overnight on a private jet and then moved to San Francisco after making a phone call to them.
"It all was staged like an abduction," the family was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Earlier in the week, French authorities allowed Greece to take custody of Vinnik. His French lawyer, Frederic Belo, suggested the extradition was a "deceptive maneuver" that would be followed by his transfer to the US.
Vinnik was arrested in Greece in 2017 at the request of the US government, which accused him of using the now defunct BTC-e cryptocurrency trading platform to launder between $4 billion and $9 billion.
France had its own money laundering case against Vinnik and secured his transfer from Greece in 2019. He stood trial and was sentenced to five years in jail.
The US retracted its request to have Vinnik extradited from France last month, which made his defense team suspect that American authorities had opted for a roundabout way to get him.
Russia too wants Vinnik to stand trial for allegedly illegally obtaining 750 million rubles ($ 12.2 million) through "computer information fraud" and stealing 600,000 rubles ($9,780).
Vinnik's lawyer said he would prefer to face justice in his home country to be closer to his family.
The businessman denied any wrongdoing, saying the American charges against him were baseless. He faces up to 55 years in prison in the US if found guilty.
Get a daily dose of Paris Guardian news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Paris Guardian.
More InformationCLARKSDALE, Mississippi: A judge in Mississippi has ordered a newspaper to take down an editorial that criticized the mayor and city...
JERUSALEM, Israel - Two bills that have passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset have raised concerns among civil society groups...
MILAN, Italy: Italy's competition authority has launched an investigation into four major automakers—BYD, Stellantis, Tesla, and Volkswagen—over...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Pentagon said this week that it has asked the military to find ways to cut about $50 billion from the 2026 budget....
HONOLULU, Hawaii: The Hawaii State Capitol needs significant repairs, which will cost between US$50 million and $100 million and could...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Border Patrol arrested 29,000 migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in January, the agency...
TOKYO, Japan: The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates at least once more this year, likely in the third quarter, bringing...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed lower on Monday, with the major indexes showing mixed performances as investors digested...
BLAGNAC, France: Airbus has set a target of delivering around 820 commercial jets in 2025, marking a seven percent increase from the...
NEW DELHI, India: Google is preparing to open its first physical retail stores outside the U.S., with locations in India likely to...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: One in five Americans say they are buying more than usual because they are worried about President Donald Trump's...
NEWPORT BEACH, California: Chipotle Mexican Grill is ramping up hiring efforts ahead of its busiest time of the year, known as burrito...