New York attorney pleads guilty to assisting sanctioned Russian oligarch
Robert Wise pleaded guilty Tuesday in Manhattan federal court to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering. A New York attorney is charged in a scheme to make nearly $4 million in payments to maintain six properties in the United States that were owned by a sanctioned oligarch . The attorney, Robert Wise, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Manhattan federal court to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. "With today's guilty plea, Robert Wise has admitted that he misused his position of trust as a lawyer, laundering money to promote sanctions violations by Viktor Vekselberg's longtime associate, Vladimir Voronchenko," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. "This Office is proud to continue its work to enforce the sanctions imposed in response to Russia's illegal war in Ukraine." MORE: Russian billionaire charged with violating US sanctions ...