Russian citizen sentenced to 10 years in Georgia for money laundering and tax evasion

The Tbilisi City Court found the citizen of the Russian Federation guilty of receiving a large amount of money by fraud, legalization of illegal income and tax evasion on an especially large scale.

The accused was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 lari (about $70,000).

According to the investigation, the convict registered a website on which, for money, he offered people assistance in legally obtaining residence permits, citizenship and driver’s licenses in different countries at the request of the customer.

“According to this scheme, the convict fraudulently took possession of approximately 250,000 US dollars.

Subsequently, in order to launder money, he legalized illegal proceeds through numerous fictitious banking operations with illegally acquired funds,” the Prosecutor General’s Office reports today.

In the case of legalization of illegal income, two legal entities were also found guilty – they were deprived of the right to economic activity for life and fined 200 thousand lari each.
The court also found that the defendant evaded paying tax in the amount of 380,000 lari (about $134,000).

According to the prosecutor’s office, the following were confiscated from the convict in favor of the state: a residential apartment with an area of ​​56.95 sq. m., located in Tbilisi on Zhvania street No. 88, No. 53, and three garages located at the same address – a total of 48.56 sq.m. Also, cars in the amount of 188,200 lari – Subaru Forester and Cadillac Escalade and foreign currency in the amount of 77 thousand lari from bank accounts were seized from a citizen of the Russian Federation.