Graham Bonham-Carter, the second cousin of actress Helena Bonham Carter, was detained in the United Kingdom; nonetheless, American prosecutors demand his extradition.
A British businessman is suspected of aiding a Russian oligarch in evading US sanctions.
Prosecutors allege that Graham Bonham-Carter helped billionaire Oleg Deripaska transport his artwork out of the United States and made payments to retain his US homes.
Since 2018, Mr. Deripaska has been subject to US sanctions for alleged ties to the Russian government.
Prosecutors claim that Mr. Bonham-Carter sent over $1 million to pay for the maintenance of three US homes held by Mr. Deripaska in the previous year.
Additionally, the 62-year-old allegedly attempted to transfer artwork from a New York auction house to London “using false statements to conceal Deripaska’s ownership of the artwork.
In a statement, the US Department of Justice described the charges.
Mr. Bonham-Carter, the second cousin of actress Helena Bonham Carter, was detained in the United Kingdom; nonetheless, American prosecutors demand his extradition.
Three allegations have been leveled against him: conspiracy to avoid US sanctions, violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and wire fraud.
Each carries a maximum possible penalty of twenty years.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom stated that Mr. Bonham-Carter appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court following the extradition request and was released on conditional bail.
“Bonham-Carter is believed to be connected to Deripaska through several high-value properties in the United States and the United Kingdom,” the National Crime Agency said in a statement.
Mr. Deripaska, the founder of the aluminum giant Rusal, was accused along with three others last month for allegedly breaking new US sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The charges included hiring a lady to sell a California music studio on his behalf and attempting to have his girlfriend give birth in the United States.
All of Mr. Deripaska’s assets in the United Kingdom have been freezing, along with two accounts owned by Mr. Bonham-Carter that are believed to have been used to launder money for the tycoon.
In March, demonstrators allegedly occupied Mr. Deripaska’s home in central London. However, he claimed that family members owned it, not him.
To exert pressure over the Ukraine invasion, the West has placed a slew of sanctions on wealthy and important persons suspected of having strong ties to the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
