The attackers created an illegal banking system with a wide range of financial services. For several years they were engaged in collection, settlement and cash services and transit of funds.
The most popular service was cash withdrawal. For this purpose, the bank accounts of 25 shell companies controlled by the defendants were used, which declared construction work as their main activity. Clients of shadow financiers transferred funds to them on fictitious grounds, which were then cashed out and returned minus a commission of 2% or more. The low remuneration rate attracted a significant number of customers. Over a year and a half of operation, the turnover of the criminal business amounted to 4.5 billion rubles, and the income received by its participants exceeded 90 million.
As a result of operational search activities carried out jointly with employees of the FSB of Russia, the police detained the leader of the organized group and four of his accomplices. An investigator of the Main Investigation Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow opened a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. All suspects were charged and a preventive measure in the form of house arrest was chosen.
10 searches were carried out at the places of residence of the defendants and in the office premises they used, during which computer equipment, stamps of shell companies, financial and business documentation and other items of evidentiary value were confiscated. The investigation is ongoing.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”
