- EVITA PAY uses USDT to promote the border payment.
- Customers include Sberbank, VTB Bank, Sovcombank and Rosatom.
- 22 Count charges include money laundering and front fraud.
The US Federal Prosecutors’ prosecution was accused of operating a sophisticated border between border fraud and money laundry through his encryption platform EVITA to Russian Iurii Gugnin, who was accused of emphasizing the increase in the execution of sanctions and encryption misuse.
Between June 2023 and January 2025, GUGNIN handled more than $ 550 million through US banks and cryptocurrency services, bypassing Russian institutions, including several blacklist banks and state -owned energy companies, and bypassing and financing Russian institutions.
The Ministry of Justice (DOJ) arrested Gugin in New York on Monday and lived in a $ 19,000 high -end Manhattan apartment a month.
He is now facing 22 federal prosecutions, including wire fraud, conspiracy for American fraud, violations of export control and multiple funds laundry. If you are convicted, Gugnin can be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for the most serious charges.
The sanctioned Russian bank used EVITA for hidden encryption transfer.
GUGNIN’s company, EVITA, was accused of entering foreign customers through US financial infrastructure using stablecoin such as USDT.
The prosecution said that the transaction was made with energy giant Rosa Tom on behalf of sanctions, including Sberbank, VTB Bank, Sovcombank and Tinkoff.
To avoid detection, GUGNIN claimed that more than 80 invoices had erased the Russian winners’ identity.
According to DOJ, EVITA’s payment flow has shifted the platform into an illegal back channel for approved transactions by covering the true source and destination of the funds.
According to a statement from the FBI’s New York office, Gugnin’s operation mentioned that “we have manipulated our country’s financial infrastructure to help the hostists of our country.”
This is especially consistent with a wide range of concerns about how cryptocurrency uses cryptocurrency to bypass economic sanctions in the context of increasing designated tensions related to Russia.
DOJ said he actively searched for criticism.
The federal prosecutor claims that Gugnin intentionally violated US law. Digital legislative evidence shows that he has done several Internet searches with phrases such as “knowing how to investigate you”, “We are under investigation” and “are we investigating?”
This search was said to have been made while his company was actively routing related to a sanction company.
It was also charged with not fulfilling the Mony-Saundering (Mony-Saundering) control. This is a requirement for a platform that promotes border payment or stable transactions in accordance with the Monde Tavering (Monde Tavering) control and US financial regulations.
At least some funds are estimated to have been used to purchase American Oripin technology for Russian customers.
A wide range of impacts on encryption regulations and sanctions
Gugnin’s arrest occurs in the world to strengthen Crypto Compliance Framework. DOJ’s action emphasizes the risks faced by the platform operated in various jurisdictions when providing services to customers in sanctions.
EVITA case also reminds us of a way that can still be abused for illegal finance when stablecoin, which is considered to be transparent than personal information coins, is ignored.
This case will be fueled by parliamentary and international organizations such as the FITF (Financial Action Task Force) to continuous discussions on the strict reporting requirements of digital asset companies and real -time monitoring tools.
In addition, US regulatory authorities may encourage to expand their efforts to indirectly relevant platforms to avoid sanctions against hostile governments or promote the promotion of hostile governments.
DOJ has not yet nominated the name of other individuals or companies that are potentially under investigation regarding EVITA, but officials have confirmed that the investigation is underway. Gugnin maintains federal custody and is expected to be trial in New York.
