BOISE – On March 21, 22, and 23, 2023, 5 relations have been sentenced to jail for his or her conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to site visitors in counterfeit trademarked items, in reference to their on-line sale of counterfeit cellphones and equipment, introduced U.S. Legal professional Josh Hurwit.
On August 1, 2022, a jury discovered Pavel Babichenko, Piotr Babichenko, Timofey Babichenko, David Bibikov, and Mikhail Iyerusalimets, responsible after a three-month trial.
Pavel Babichenko, Piotr Babichenko, Timofey Babichenko, David Bibikov, and Mikhail Iyerusalimets operated a multi-million greenback scheme whereby they bought counterfeit cellphones and cellphone equipment on Amazon.com and eBay.com that the defendants misrepresented as new and real Apple and Samsung merchandise. The counterfeit cellphones and cellphone equipment have been obtained in bulk from producers in Hong Kong, repackaged within the Treasure Valley, after which individually resold to shoppers on-line as real and new.
“My Workplace is dedicated to defending Idaho shoppers, companies, and the general public from fraud of every kind,” mentioned U.S. Legal professional Josh Hurwit. “The convictions, sentences, and monetary restoration on this case displays our capability to work with our legislation enforcement companions to take down large-scale and long-term fraud enterprises that cross borders.”
“These sentencings are a results of HSI’s dedication to guard the U.S. financial system and mental property by investigating schemes that threaten the worldwide financial system,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations within the Pacific Northwest. “I commend the brokers at HSI and our legislation enforcement companions at FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-CI, U.S. Marshals Service, the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Process Drive, Ada County Sheriff’s Workplace, Boise Police Division, and the Meridian Police Division for the years of labor that led to this end result.”
“These sentencings are the results of legislation enforcement’s unrelenting work to dismantle transnational felony organizations,” mentioned Appearing Particular Agent in Cost Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Salt Lake Metropolis FBI. “With sturdy partnerships in Idaho and around the globe, the FBI stands agency in combatting those that try to defraud U.S. residents and U.S. corporations for his or her monetary acquire.”
Senior U.S. District Decide B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Pavel Babichenko to 72 months in federal jail, a $21,000 advantageous, and three years of supervised launch. Decide Winmill additional entered a $33,708,700.30 forfeiture cash judgment towards Pavel Babichenko.
Piotr Babichenko was sentenced to serve 48 months in federal jail, a $10,000 advantageous, and three years of supervised launch. A $3,316,882.40 forfeiture cash judgment was entered towards him.
Timofey Babichenko was sentenced to serve 48 months in federal jail, a $10,500 advantageous, and three years of supervised launch. A $9,230,196.82 forfeiture cash judgment was entered towards him.
David Bibikov was sentenced to serve one month in federal jail, 9 months of house detention, and three years of supervised launch. A $4,710,207.11 forfeiture cash judgment was entered towards him.
Mikhail Iyerusalimets was sentenced to serve two months in federal jail, 9 months of house detention, and three years of supervised launch. A $953,411.95 forfeiture cash judgment was entered towards him.
A future listening to will decide restitution and compensation of public defender legal professional charges.
U.S. Legal professional Hurwit recommended the cooperative efforts of the joint investigation led by the FBI and Homeland Safety Investigations, together with IRS-Felony Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service. These federal businesses have been joined within the investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Process Drive, the Ada County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Boise Police Division, and the Meridian Police Division.
This prosecution is a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Process Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, cash launderers, gangs, and transnational felony organizations that threaten the USA through the use of a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency strategy that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and native legislation enforcement businesses towards felony networks.
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