In Spain, at the request of the United States, a citizen of the United Kingdom, Richard Mas…

In Spain, at the request of the United States, a citizen of the United Kingdom, Richard Masters, was arrested. Also put on the wanted list is 51-year-old Russian citizen Vladislav Osipov. They are accused of facilitating sanctions evasion and a money laundering scheme for oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.

According to investigators, Osipov and Masters helped the oligarch hide the ownership of a 255-foot yacht worth $90 million.

Osipov developed a complex ownership structure of shell companies to conceal Vekselberg’s ownership of the yacht, despite the fact that Vekselberg designed the yacht, was the sole user, and was the ultimate beneficial owner.

After Vekselberg was sanctioned in April 2018, Masters’ company took over management of the yacht Tango and conspired with others to avoid US sanctions. According to the indictment, among other things, Masters devised a scheme to use the fictitious name of the yacht “Fanta” to hide from financial institutions that payments in U.S. dollars ultimately benefited Tango and Vekselberg.

On April 4, 2022, Spanish law enforcement authorities implemented a Spanish court order to freeze Tango.

“The message is clear: Putin’s cronies will not find support in their wealth, and those who illegally live this lifestyle will be brought to justice,” said Special Agent Ivan J. Arvelo.