Do you know any Russian kleptocrats who are hiding potentially ill-gotten gains? If so, you might be able to snitch on them and get a $5 million payout.
A program launched this week by the U.S. government aims to recovers stolen assets from a number of individuals, including those linked to corruption in the Russian Federation. The Secretary of the Treasury has authority to offer rewards up to $5 million for information that could help seize the assets.
Tipsters can contact Kleptocracy_Rewards@Treasury.gov or call 1-202-622-2050.
Russia began a deadly invasion of Ukraine in February, and the U.S. has been aiding the Ukrainian fight against the Russian troops by providing equipment to its military. However, this “Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program,” has been in the works since before the invasion. Kleptocracy refers to a “government by those who seek chiefly status and personal gain at the expense of the governed.”
Specifically, the government is looking for “stolen assets,” or financial assets within the jurisdiction of the U.S. constituting, derived from, or traceable to, any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from foreign government corruption. The term “financial assets” refers to funds, investments, or ownership interests, that “come within the United States or that come within the possession or control of any U.S. person,” as of this year.
“The Interagency Review Committee will consider reward eligibility on a case-by-case basis,” said the U.S. Treasury Department. Tips can be provided to the Treasury, an investigating agency, or a U.S. embassy abroad. In some cases, the Treasury Secretary and Congress may decide to award a higher amount.
Reward amounts will be based on “various factors,” including: whether the information was previously known to investigating agencies, the risk assumed by the informant, and the significance of the information in leading to the restraint or seizure, forfeiture, or repatriation of the assets identified.
The Treasury stressed that there is no guarantee of a reward for tipsters. Employees of foreign, U.S. federal, state, or local governments who furnish information obtained in the performance of official duties are ineligible for reward payments. If those offering information were involved in the underlying misconduct, there will be a reward deduction or a denial if they are convicted of criminal conduct for their participation.
“Consistent with applicable law, the Department of the Treasury will keep the information received, as well as the identity of the person who supplied it and any monies paid out by this program, strictly confidential,” said the department.
However, to be eligible for consideration submissions must be made under penalty of perjury.
Along with the kleptocrat information rewards announcement, Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the launch this week of the “Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) multilateral task force,” in cooperation with foreign partners.
“Cooperation between the U.S. Government and foreign partners has already yielded notable successes,” said the announcement. “In the last three weeks alone, information provided by U.S. law enforcement to foreign partners has contributed to the restraint of multiple vessels controlled by sanctioned individuals and entities. Collectively, these vessels are estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Garland also established the Department of Justice Task Force KleptoCapture program – designed to help deploy U.S. prosecutorial and law enforcement resources to identify sanctions evasion and related criminal conduct – March 2, which will support the effort.
“We are already working with our international partners to freeze and seize properties belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarchs worldwide,” said Attorney General Garland. “We will continue to work together to take all appropriate actions against those whose criminal acts enable the Russian government to continue its unjust war against Ukraine.”
A list of 28 individuals who have been sanctioned by multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S., was released by the Treasury Wednesday. It includes Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Related
Related
