A former high-ranking FBI agent faces charges of aiding a sanctioned Russian oligarch

A former high-ranking FBI agent is facing multiple charges for his alleged work with a sanctioned Russian oligarch.

Charles McGonigal, a former special agent in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI’s New York office, is accused of working with Oleg Deripaska, who has been on the US sanctions list since 2018.

McGonigal’s involvement with the Russian billionaire included taking secret payments to investigate one of Deripaska’s rivals. Prosecutors said he also worked to remove Deripaska from the US sanctions list, in violation of federal law.

Sergei Shestakov, an American citizen who was a McGonigal, a former Soviet and Russian diplomat and federal court interpreter, is facing charges. Prosecutors allege that Shestakov, 69, and McGonigal conspired to aid Deripaska.

“Allegedly, Charles McGonigal, a former high-ranking FBI official, and Sergei Shestakov, a court interpreter, violated U.S. sanctions by agreeing to provide services to Oleg Deripaska, a banned Russian oligarch,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. “They both previously worked with Deripaska to try to get his sanctions lifted, and as public servants, they should know better. This office will continue to prosecute violators of U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Its own pockets.”

Prosecutors charged McGonigal, 54, His work with Deripaska was well known to have broken the law. The former FBI agent worked on Russian counterintelligence, organized crime and counterespionage during his more than 20 years with the agency. At one point he even investigated Deripaska and other Russian oligarchs. McGonigal officially retired in 2018.

Deripaska was banned by the US That same year “directly or indirectly, having worked for or on behalf of a senior official of the Government of the Russian Federation.” Deripaska was Criminal charges were also filed last September For trying to avoid those many restrictions and obstruction of justice.

Deripaska is the wealthy founder of an aluminum company in Russia and has ties to the country’s president, Vladimir Putin. He also previously worked with former President Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.

A federal indictment on Monday charged McGonigal and Shestakov with one count of conspiracy to defraud and violate U.S. sanctions, violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), violate IEEPA, and conspire to obtain money. Laundering, and one count of money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Shestakov faces an additional charge of making a false statement, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, prosecutors said.

Court records did not list an attorney for Shestakov or McGonigal.