| Money
Launderer Rahmankulov Found Guilty and
Remanded For Threats and Uzbek Ties
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
September 1 – Sherzod Rasulov
and three others are charged
with operating an unlicensed
money transfer business, and
money
laundering.
On June 8,
2021 U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Judge Ronnie Abrams held
a proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
The
defendants are out on bond,
with permission to travel for
such things as Uber employment
(as to Sukhrob Sobirov).
Co-defendant Shakhzod Yunusov
applied for and got permission
to travel to Philadelphia for
a CDL license.
On June 8,
Yunusov said he'd like 30 days
in this case. It was granted,
to July 8.
On June 10, A2B
Transportation filed a
petition to determine its
interest in the $80,551.39
seized in its TD Bank account
from an Economic Injury
Disaster Loan from the SBA. It
wants the money.
On September 7,
2021, counsel to Sukhrob
Sobirov filed for permission
for Sobirov to go on vacation
to Florida. He filed it under
the Magistrates Court docket
number, 20-mj-8521.
Jump cut to
August 25, 2022: co-defendant
Djonibek Rahmankulov is on
trial before Judge Abrams. The
prosecutor showed the jurors
on screen TD Bank account
statements including a $45,000
wire to Nodira Transport of
Rego Park, ostensibly from
Congregation Mosdos Toldos
Aharon. But that Congregation
never did business with the
Nodira Moving company. What
did TD Bank know, and when?
On August 26,
more TD Bank document, this
time payments to a range of
Iranian-Americans who said the
payments consistent of money
from their relative in Iran
who could only send it this
way due to US sanctions. There
was Benyamin Famici and
payments EZ Seven Wholesale,
then DC-area dentist Reza
Tahernia who said the funds
were from his brother in Iran,
including to buy a gift for
his son. Of these, there was
no cross-examination.
On August 29,
initial co-defendant (now
cooperator) Artur Sattarov was
on the stand, describing how
he laundered money for Arkadiy
Khaimov and Dilmurod Nazarov
through companies he set up
with Wholesale and
Transportation in their names.
The
prosecutors put up a
demonstrative of teh money
going through China - CCP flag
on the screen - to
Uzbekistan. Sattarov was
asked, why do Uzbeks do this?
He said, because
Uzbekistan's government is
corrupt, and there is no
foreign exchange rate, and
they do not want to get in
trouble (there).
On August 30, the
prosecution had on the stand
an expert about pharmacies
scams: selling drugs that are
not legitimately obtained,
ripping off Medicare, Medicaid
and US taxpayers. The cross
examination consisted of
questions about previous cases
worked on.
On August 31, in
Rahmankulov's lawyer's closing
argument, he said the
prosecution "only wants to
win," and used fully seven
cooperators. He said, of his
client's community, that these
people trust each other,
that's why they sign checks
with the Payee left blank. He
urged the jurors to get out of
the law enforcement mind set.
On September 1,
Rahmankulov was found guilty -
and then remanded to
detention. Inner City Press
was there in Courtroom 105 and
live tweeted here:
Now in referenced
money laundering case US v
Rahmankulov, ranging from
Uzbekistan through China to
Iran.
Rahmankulov is
out on bail, now sitting in
gallery. No Marshals here -
yet. There would be, if US
ready to request remand to
prison. Three more
supporters, and a kid, arrive
in Courtroom 105.
VERDICT: GUILTY.
Now remand hearing.
AUSA: He's
dangerous. On bail, he tried
to change witnesses'
testimony.
AUSA: He
threatened to take revenge on
witnesses.He faces well over
10 years. He faces deportation
after. Four kids in
courtroom now.
AUSA:
Rakhmankulov was laughing
during trial. Detain him.
Defense: He has four kids, all
born here, so citizens. He
entered through Mexico and is
seeking asylum.
Rakhmankulov has
his head down, awaiting
decision. He already has a GPS
ankle monitor. Defense lawyer:
I told him it probably
wouldn't go our way today. He
came without his phone. But he
came.
Judge
Abrams: Give me a few
minutes. Uzbek kids,
very cute, just passed by to
put in courtroom gsrbage pail
Cheerios that fell on the
floor.
Now Judge Abrams
back: I am ordering remand,
mostly on risk of flight, some
danger.
Judge Abrams said
the children made it a
particularly difficult
decision for her.
Rahmankulov
started crying, and two
Marshals moved in...
The overall case
is US v. Rasulov et al.,
20-cr-653 (Abrams)
***
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