FBI Seized a Diego Rivera Painting and Prada Shoes from Russian Billionaire

In October 2021, the FBI seized half a dozen works of fine art, along with financial documents, telephone bills, and other miscellaneous luxury goods from Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska in his Washington, D.C. mansion and West Village townhouse. Months later, it is now clear why the raid happened: to understand how Deripaska moved money to benefit the Russian state.

Deripaska, who has an estimated net worth of $3 billion, has been sanctioned by the United States since 2018. The 2018 report that sanctioned Deripaska found he traveled on a Russian diplomatic passport and has represented the Russian government.

According to the U.S. Treasury, he "has been investigated for money laundering, and has been accused of threatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering."

However, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to a new report in Bloomberg, "the investigation of Deripaska’s assets is now part of an escalating U.S. crackdown on ultra-rich Russians suspected of laundering money and hiding assets to help finance Putin’s regime."

The assets seized from Deripaska include a Diego Rivera painting (details of which painting have not been released by the FBI), five other paintings, a pair of Prada shoes, sunglasses, and a baseball cap.

His spokeswoman dismissed the claims about Deripaska, telling Bloomberg in a statement, "Not a single investigation into Mr. Deripaska has ever produced any evidence in support of the lies and baseless allegations against him. To think that seizing baseball caps and shoes in houses that do not even belong to Mr. Deripaska will somehow make those lies more believable is absurd." (The homes owned by companies which are believed to be owned by Deripaska.)

After the war began, Deripaska posted on his social media "Peace is very important!" Deripaska also wrote in support of peace talks, writing, "Negotiations need to start as soon as possible!"

The investigations into Deripaska are being subsumed into a larger investigation of Russian oligarch's assets in the U.S., called Task Force "KleptoCapture" by the U.S. Department of Justice. "The Justice Department will use all of its authorities to seize the assets of individuals and entities who violate these sanctions," attorney general Merrick Garland said in a statement in March. "We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those whose criminal acts enable the Russian government to continue this unjust war. Let me be clear: if you violate our laws, we will hold you accountable."

"To those bolstering the Russian regime through corruption and sanctions evasion: We will deprive you of safe haven and hold you accountable," deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco added. "Oligarchs be warned: we will use every tool to freeze and seize your criminal proceeds."

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