The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that it has indicted a Russian state television producer and his wife for violating U.S. sanctions against Russia. The television producer was a former advisor to President Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Dmitri Simes, 76, and his wife Anastasia Simes, 55, are facing charges of violating U.S. sanctions, conspiring to violate sanctions, and conspiring to engage in international money laundering. The couple, who hold dual Russian and American citizenship, own property in Huntly, Virginia.
Dmitri Simes previously served as president and CEO of the Center for National Interest, a think tank promoting improved U.S.-Russia relations. However, he resigned in 2022. He also worked as an advisor to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
The Simes couple is currently fugitives, believed to be in Russia. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
The Department of Justice has issued two indictments against them: one joint indictment for the Simes couple, and another separate indictment for Anastasia Simes.
According to the first indictment, Dmitri Simes is under investigation for hosting a TV program called “The Great Game” on Channel One Russia, a state television channel that was sanctioned by the U.S. in May 2022 for generating revenue for the Kremlin after the Russo-Ukrainian War. Despite the sanctions, Simes continued to host the program. The couple has not stopped providing support to Channel One Russia since June 2022.
Simes received over $1 million in compensation, a private car with a driver, an allowance for a Moscow apartment, and a team of 10 employees provided by Channel One Russia.
They are also accused of conspiring with others to move funds from Rosbank in Russia to the U.S. through Armenia as an intermediary.
In the second indictment, Anastasia Simes is accused of frequently providing funds and services to sanctioned Russian businessman Aleksander Yevgenyevich Udodov since February 2023, in exchange for compensation.
Investigations revealed that Anastasia Simes provided art and antiques to Udodov in a money laundering scheme, with Udodov reimbursing her for expenses and service fees.
Attempts to reach out to Dmitri Simes for comment have been made but were unsuccessful.