Regional Leader Of Sanctioned Russian Organization Pleads Guilty To Lying To FBI

 

Tomas Ianchauskas, a U.S. Green Card Holder and Regional Leader of the Sanctioned Tsargrad Society, Falsely Denied Participation in Organization and its Predecessor Controlled by Indicted Oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea of TOMAS IANCHAUSKAS, a regional leader of a sanctioned Russian Organization known as the Tsargrad Society (the “Society”), for lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) about his participation in the Society and its predecessor during an in-person interview in the U.S.  IANCHAUSKAS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Coleen McMahon and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “While enjoying the benefits of U.S. permanent residency, Tomas Ianchauskas served as a regional leader of the Tsargrad Society, a sanctioned Russian organization controlled by sanctioned oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, who was previously indicted by this Office for willfully violating U.S. sanctions laws.  On two separate occasions, Ianchauskas lied to the FBI, falsely claiming that he had no involvement in the Tsargrad Society whatsoever, and no involvement in its predecessor entity the Double Headed Eagle Society for the three prior years.  Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to undermine critical sanctions put in place to challenge Russia’s aggression.” 

According to the Complaint previously filed against IANCHAUSKAS, the Information, and other filings:

IANCHAUSKAS is a U.S. green card holder who principally resides in Russia.  By operation of the Ukraine-Related Executive Orders 13660, 13661, 13662, and 14024, IANCHAUSKAS is prohibited from, among other things, making any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Valeryevich Malofeyev or certain Malofeyev-controlled designated entities, including the Society, formerly known as the Double Headed Eagle Society (“DHES”).  

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) initially designated Malofeyev in 2014, explaining that he was one of the main sources of financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea and has materially assisted, sponsored, and provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a separatist organization in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.  The Society was designated by OFAC in or about April 2022 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, Malofeyev.  As described by OFAC, the Society was formerly known as DHES, a Russia-registered organization which has been accused of involvement in espionage on behalf of Russia.  OFAC further explained that the Society is part of Malofeyev’s “malign influence ecosystem” and “advocates for Russia to return to a monarchical system of government and counts among its core principles revanchist aims like the ‘reunification of the Russian people’ and ‘returning the Russian Empire to its historical borders’ — to include, in the Society’s definition, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, Moldova, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.”[1]

Following OFAC’s designations, on or about April 6, 2022, this Office indicted Malofeyev on one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and one count of violation of IEEPA.

On or about January 12, 2022, during an in-person interview with FBI agents in the Southern District of New York, IANCHAUSKAS falsely stated, in substance and in part, that he had no involvement in the Society whatsoever, he had no involvement with DHES for approximately three years, and he never had a leadership position at DHES and never did anything on behalf of DHES.  In truth and in fact, and as IANCHAUSKAS knew, from at least in or about 2020 through in or about 2022, IANCHAUSKAS served as the head of the Penza Regional Branch of DHES, which in or about November 2020 was renamed the Society.  In his leadership capacity, IANCHAUSKAS planned DHES events in Russia and received funding from DHES in or about 2020, among other times.

Subsequent to his interview with the FBI in January 2022, IANCHAUSKAS continued his membership in the Society and provided services to the Society.  In or about April 2023, when inviting individuals to attend an event with Malofeyev in Penza, Russia, IANCHAUSKAS wrote, among other things, “we are his regional department,” and distributed a photograph of Malofeyev with the message, in part and substance, “it is thanks to him and his subordinates that Crimea was joined to Russia and Donbass began to be joined.”  During a second interview with the FBI on December 22, 2023, IANCHAUSKAS reiterated certain false statements, including that he had never been a member of the Society. 

IANCHAUSKAS, 39, a U.S. green card holder principally residing in Russia, pled guilty to one count of making false statements to special agents of the FBI, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thane Rehn and Vladislav Vainberg are in charge of the prosecution. 

[1] U.S. Department of Treasury, Press Release “U.S. Treasury Designates Facilitators of Russian Sanctions Evasion,” available online https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0731