” More money, more money ? We're going to be rich! » Krystyna Pusyreva rejoiced in a message sent to her partner in January 2023. A resident of the West Island of Montreal dreamed of making a fortune by secretly supplying electronic components to the Russian army as part of the war in Ukraine. One year Later, he pleaded guilty in a US court and faces a stiff prison sentence.
Kristina Puzyreva, 32, of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, pleaded guilty Monday to money laundering conspiracy in Brooklyn. There was a girl He was arrested last November at a Manhattan hotel with his accomplice Nikolay Koltsev. The couple, two Russian and Canadian nationals, have been detained in the US ever since.
A suspected accomplice of the couple, a Brooklyn resident with dual Russian and Tajik citizenship, was also arrested, and dozens of semiconductors and other electronic components were seized from his home.
According to preliminary indictments filed in court, the couple allegedly organized a network that supplied strategic electronic components to the Russian military, the export of which was controlled by law and used by the Russian military in missiles, tanks, drones, helicopters and others. Military equipment during the invasion of Ukraine. US investigators say equipment found on battlefield thanks to Quebec couple
The suit alleges that the couple, who live in Quebec, frequently traveled to New York, where Kristina Buzyreva deposited large sums of money into American bank accounts. The funds were later transferred to the couple's bank accounts in Canada. Messages exchanged by participants were intercepted by investigators and filed as evidence in court.
The couple waited for the trial, but on Monday the woman decided to cut the process short. He pleaded guilty to a charge following discussions with prosecutors, which was approved by a judge. He will be sentenced next September.
Long term relationship
“The defendant in this case planned to ship critical missile and other weapons components to Russia in violation of our sanctions and export control laws, which were found in Russian weapons. The war in Ukraine,” said US Federal Attorney Lisa O. Monaco said. In a statement. The 30-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison, the press release said. However, his decision to plead guilty risks working in his favor when sentencing is determined.
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Kristina Buzyreva and her partner Nikolai Koltsev
Wife Mme Busireva still faces multiple charges of conspiracy, fraud and kidnapping. In court documents filed by the US Justice Department, Nikolai Koltsev is described as having a “long-standing” relationship with his contacts in Russia. According to US investigators, the 37-year-old man is believed to have supplied the Russian military for more than 12 years.
According to a US federal agent's affidavit filed in court in Brooklyn, Goldchev received orders from his Russian contacts and used two front companies established in New York to buy desirable parts from US suppliers.
significant amount
“Over the course of a year, this criminal organization was able to violate US sanctions and laws and send more than 300 prohibited exports, valued at approximately $10 million dollars, to the Russian battlefield,” US officials said. When charges are filed.
Authorities seized $1.68 million in cash in addition to $20,000 in cash in the couple's New York hotel room.
Goldchev previously worked for the electronic components company Electronic Networks in Saint-Laurent Paris. Last winter the company was granted permission by the US government to export parts to Russia.
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