Entertainment

TV producer faces funding fee for Russian networks – The Hollywood Reporter

Former Fox News producer John Hanick, a US citizen, has been arrested for funding a Russian media magnate who promoted aggression in Ukraine through other television news networks. together. Despite charges related to sanctions enacted in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, an area in Ukraine, federal prosecutors are signaling that they will pursue the charges aggressively. lawsuits against entertainment industry insiders with financial ties to Russia.

In an unsealed indictment Thursday, the Justice Department accused Hanick of funding Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev in violation of sanctions against Russia that were enacted in 2014.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division said in a statement Thursday.

Hanick, who worked for Fox News from 1996 to 2011, faces up to 25 years in prison for allegedly violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and making false statements to companies. federal prosecutor. He was arrested on February 3 in London and is awaiting extradition.

According to the criminal complaint attached below, Hanick worked for Malofeyev even after sanctions barred US citizens from doing business with him. The work involved Malofeyev creating television news networks in Russia, Bulgaria, and Greece that promoted Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Prosecutors say Hanick played a leadership role at the networks and was described at various times as a board chairman, general producer and general counsel. He is said to be in control of engineering and production decisions.

Hanick also worked on a project to establish and run a Greek television network and attempt to acquire a Bulgarian television network. In a November 2015 email detailing the complaint, Hanick wrote to Malofeyev that the Russian television network in Greece would be “an opportunity to detail Russia’s position”.

In connection with Malofeyev’s attempt to buy a Bulgarian television network, Hanick allegedly took steps to conceal Malofeyev’s role in the acquisition so that it would appear that the buyer was a Greek citizen and not Malofeyev, according to the indictment.

When interviewed by FBI agents in February 2021, prosecutors claimed Hanick lied about his work for Malofeyev.

“Today’s unsealed indictment demonstrates this office’s commitment to enforcing laws that deter those who would use their assets to undermine fundamental democratic processes,” the law said. US attorney Damien Williams in the Southern District of New York. “This office will continue to be at the forefront of the Justice Department’s work to hold actors accountable who will support blatant and unjustified acts of war.”

AMPTP declined to comment. The Producers Guild of America and Fox News did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The DOJ said it was “the first criminal indictment to allege violations of US sanctions arising from Russia’s 2014 subversion of democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine”. Thursday’s statement also touts the recently announced KleptoCapture Task Force, which is dedicated to enforcing sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures imposed in response to “the conflict.” Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.”

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