Carolina: A Russian national living in North Carolina who had been accused by authorities of involvement in a USD 150 million kickback scheme while working for a Russian military contractor has pleaded guilty to unrelated charges including bribery and visa fraud.
Leonid Teyf, 59, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty Friday to bribery of a public official, visa fraud, and false statements on a tax return. His ex-wife, Tatiana, 43, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in an immigration matter. Both agreed to forfeit nearly USD 6 million in assets.
Teyf pleaded guilty to offering a USD 10,000 bribe to an employee of the Department of Homeland Security in 2018 to cause the deportation of a man who he thought was having an affair with Tatiana. He also pleaded guilty to making a false claim on a visa application in 2018 and falsely denying overseas financial interests on his 2012 tax return.
Prosecutors had said Teyf used his position as an executive with a Russian military supplier between 2010 and 2012 to extract kickbacks from subcontractors seeking to do business with Russia’s armed forces.
Prosecutors also agreed to seek a prison term of just five years. Teyf faces deportation after serving his prison sentence.