U.S. Arrests and Charges British and Russian Businessmen for Sanctions Evasion of Oligarch’s Yacht

On January 20, 2023, the United States Department of Justice announced the unsealing of separate indictments against two businessmen, Vladislav Osipov, 51, a Russian national, and Richard Masters, 52, a United Kingdom national, charging them with facilitating a sanctions evasion and money laundering scheme in relation to the ownership and operation of the Motor yacht (M/Y) Tango (International Maritime Organization number 1010703).  The yacht is a $90 million, 255-foot luxury yacht owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.  The indictments charge the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and to commit offenses against the U.S., violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and money laundering.  The U.S. requested that Spain provisionally arrest Masters for purposes of extradition.  The Spanish Guardia Civil executed the arrest against Maters on January 20.  The arrest warrant against Osipov is outstanding.[1]