After a high-profile trial, Lev Parnas, a Giuliani associate was convicted of six charges related to campaign finance.
Andrey Kukushkin was also found guilty of the same two charges.
They were accused of illegally funneling money from a Russian businessman into US campaigns.
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After a highly publicized trial in Manhattan, Lev Parnas was found guilty of six charges of campaign finance. Andrey Kukushkin was also found guilty of two other charges. Igor Fruman, and David Correia were also charged in the case. Parnas, Kukushkin, and Kukushkin pleaded guilty.
Parnas, Kukushkin and Andrey Muraviev were accused of funneling $1million from Russia to Kukushkin. Prosecutors claim $150,000 went illegally to US campaigns. Prosecutors claimed that the defendants funneled money to obtain political support and licenses for their marijuana venture.
Assistant US attorney Hagan Cordell Scolken stated that there was an agreement to bring Andrey Muraviev’s wealth and corruption into American politics. "It is obvious as day that these defendants agreed for Muraviev to be donated to US political campaigns."
Scotten said: "There is nothing wrong with being Russian, and there's nothing wrong selling marijuana with a licence. To get the license, you can't give money to American politicians.
According to Law & Crime, Scotten stated that "Make no mistake, this conspiracy was intended to influence-buying."
Muraviev was not charged with any wrongdoing.
Joseph Bondy, Parnas' defense lawyer, claimed that the donations were legitimate. He called the allegations against him "poppycock."
According to Politico, he stated that "there was no effort whatsoever to hide anything whatsoever." "There was no attempt to make a donation in another person's name whatsoever. This isn't a hidden payment made by a shell company to deceive.
CNN reported that Parnas could face up to five years imprisonment for each of the five charges against him. The sixth count, which accuses him of falsifying records to Federal Election Commission, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. CNN reports that each of the two counts Kukushkin has been found guilty of carries five years maximum prison sentences.
Prosecutors requested that Parnas, Kukushkin and Kukushkin immediately be remanded into prison on Friday, but US District Judge Paul Oetken denied the request, noting the defendants weren't a flight risk.
This is a developing story. Keep checking back for more updates.
