The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed criminal charges against the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex’s administrators. This follows an investigation that claims Garantex facilitated money laundering operations linked to criminal groups and breaches of U.S. sanctions. The individuals charged include Aleksej Besciokov, a 46-year-old Lithuanian national, and 40-year-old Aleksandr Mira Serda, a Russian residing in the UAE. The indictment alleges that both were aware of the illicit activities occurring on their platform and actively sought to conceal them.
The DOJ’s findings indicate that Garantex processed transactions amounting to approximately $96 billion since 2019, with hundreds of millions allegedly linked to criminal activities, including hacking, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Prosecutors have accused Besciokov of knowingly facilitating transactions connected to notorious cybercriminals, notably the North Korean hacking group Lazarus.
The announcement of the indictment coincided with the U.S. Secret Service and various law enforcement agencies shutting down Garantex’s official website, replacing its content with a seizure notice. Attempts by TechCrunch to reach Garantex via email went unanswered, and inquiries through its Telegram channel were also ignored.
Charges against the two men include conspiracy to commit money laundering, with penalties that could lead to substantial prison time. Besciokov faces additional charges for violating U.S. sanctions and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Authorities have not confirmed if either individual has been arrested.
According to the DOJ, both administrators knowingly allowed their platform to be exploited for money laundering, even in the face of inquiries from Russian authorities. Garantex allegedly provided incomplete information when prompted about an account related to Mira Serda, resulting in accusations that they had withheld key details.
The exchange has long been under scrutiny, with the U.S. Treasury sanctioning Garantex in 2022, following investigations that linked it to criminal engagements totalling over $100 million. The European Union also sanctioned the exchange in 2024, citing its connections with other sanctioned Russian entities.
The DOJ claims that despite ongoing sanctions, Besciokov and his team continued to process transactions with U.S.-based entities, employing tactics to evade detection. Law enforcement reported freezing over $26 million tied to Garantex’s money laundering schemes, including substantial frozen funds in Tether and Bitcoin.
Prior to these actions, Garantex announced a suspension of services, including cryptocurrency withdrawals, following the blockade of its accounts by Tether, which had previously held over $28 million. In a defiant statement on Telegram, Garantex voiced its commitment to resist external pressures and alerted users to avoid scammers attempting to exploit the turmoil surrounding the exchange.
No mention was made of the indictment or site seizure in Garantex’s communications with users.
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