Ex-TV producer accused of violating U.S. sanctions against Russia

A former U.S. TV producer has been charged with violating U.S. sanctions in opposition to Russia, imposed in 2014 on account of its annexation of Crimea.

The Division of Justice stated Friday that it had charged John Hanick, a.okay.a. Jack Hanick, 71, for the violations and for making false statements to the FBI in connection along with his work with Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.

Malofeyev had been tied to financing the promotion of Russia-aligned separatist teams working in Ukraine, in keeping with U.S. Legal professional Damien Williams for the Southern District of New York.

Hanick is accused of working instantly for the oligarch on a number of TV initiatives over a number of years.

The cost is the primary felony indictment alleging a violation of Crimea-related U.S. sanctions. The Division of Justice stated it confirmed the federal government’s dedication to imposing legal guidelines meant to cease wealthy people utilizing their wealth to undermine democracy.

“The Justice Division will do the whole lot it could to stamp out Russian aggression and interference,” stated Asst. Atty. Gen. Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Division’s Nationwide Safety Division in a press release.

This week President Biden introduced a brand new spherical of sanctions in opposition to greater than a dozen Russian oligarchs and their households after Russia provoked worldwide outrage by invading Ukraine.

A lot of main U.S. media and tech corporations, together with Apple, Spotify, Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros., have introduced plans to drag initiatives or limit entry to Russian state programming in response to the invasion.

Malofeyev had been sanctioned for threatening Ukraine and offering monetary assist to the Donetsk separatist area, the Justice Division stated.

Hanick helped Malofeyev create TV networks in Russia, Bulgaria and Greece, which was a violation of these sanctions. Hanick labored for the oligarch from 2013 to 2017, the DOJ stated.

Hanick was arrested in London, U.Okay. earlier this month and charged with violating the Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act, which carries a most penalty of 20 years in jail and faces presumably one other most 5 years for making false statements.

The criticism states that Hanick was a producer for a cable community primarily based in New York Metropolis from 1996 to 2011.

Hanick was a director at Fox Information Channel throughout that interval, in keeping with his LinkedIn profile.

He had beforehand labored at CNBC with Roger Ailes and had come over to Fox Information with Ailes at its inception in 1996. He was a weekend daytime director for the community.

A Fox Information spokesperson declined to remark.