Giuliani Associate Lev Parnas Faces New Federal Fraud Charges

Topline

Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged Lev Parnas, a businessman who collaborated with President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to collect damaging information on Trump’s political rivals, with conspiring to commit wire fraud by misusing money raised for his startup Fraud Guarantee. 

Key Facts

Further Background

The men were previously charged in October 2019 along with businessmen Igor Fruman and Andrey Kukushkin in a four-count indictment alleging that each conspired to violate the ban on political donations and contributions by foreign nationals. Parnas was also charged with conspiring to make political contributions in other people’s names and falsifying records to the Federal Election Commission. 

Tangent

In early 2019, Parnas, Fruman and Giuliani tried to persuade Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son Hunter. Giuliani is reportedly under investigation by the same federal prosecutors, who have examined whether he illegally lobbied the Trump administration on behalf of a Ukrainian official. Giuliani has said he did nothing wrong.

Surprising Fact

In 2018, Parnas and Correia hired Giuliani to consult with Fraud Guarantee. 

Further Reading

Lev Parnas And David Correia Charged With Conspiring To Defraud Investors In Their Fraud Insurance Company “Fraud Guarantee” (Statement)

How 2 Soviet Émigrés Fueled the Trump Impeachment Flames (New York Times)

Rudy Giuliani Plans Ukraine Trip to Push for Inquiries That Could Help Trump (New York Times)