An Associate of Trump's Lawyer and former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, pleaded Guilty, Friday, to Illegally funneling Foreign Donations to U.S. Political Campaigns, as part of an effort to win Licenses in the booming Legal Marijuana Business.
Igor Fruman, admitted to using Foreign Money to make U.S. Political Donations, to get a planned Cannabis Business off the ground in various States.
As part of a Plea deal with Prosecutors, Igor Fruman, 56, admitted to Soliciting a Foreign National for Donations to both State and Federal Campaigns.
During a Hearing in Manhattan Federal Court, neither Prosecutors nor Fruman’s Attorney discussed Specific Details of the Donations or Identified the Recipients of the Money, but Fruman did Agree that the Sums involved exceeded $25,000.
The Judge who took Fruman’s Plea Friday, J. Paul Oetken, has also Supervised aspects of the ongoing Inquiry into Giuliani, which Focuses on whether he failed to Register when Acting as a Lobbyist for Foreign Interests.
It’s unclear whether the Guilty Plea means, Fruman will become a Prosecution Witness, against Giuliani in some yet-to-be-filed Case.
Another Giuliani Associate, Lev Parnas, is scheduled to face a Jury Trial, next month, with a Co-Defendant in the Case, Andrey Kukushkin, on Charges related to alleged Schemes to make Donations to U.S. Political Campaigns both from Foreigners and using so-called “straw donors” who Hid the Identity of the Sources of the Cash.
The initial Indictment in the Case also Linked the Defendants to an effort to Oust the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, a drive that Giuliani, was Deeply Involved in, and which led to Trump’s first Impeachment. However, Prosecutors quietly Deleted that Language in subsequent Indictments without Explanation.
One of the Charges in the Case, accuses Parnas of Fraud in connection with seeking Investments in a Company he and Fruman founded, called “Fraud Guarantee.” Giuliani took a $500,000 Consulting Fee for work to boost the Firm in 2018, but contends he was Unaware of any Fraudulent Solicitations.
However, Oetken ruled that the “Fraud Guarantee” Charge should be tried Separately after a Trial on the Illegal-Donations Charges, making it Unlikely that Giuliani will be Discussed much, if at all, in the Trial set to Open Oct. 12th.
In a brief Statement he read aloud at Friday’s hearing, Fruman Admitted to using Foreign Money to make U.S. Political Donations, to get a Planned Cannabis Business off the ground in various States. “Part of the business plan included donations to government officials in those states,” Fruman told Oetken.
Fruman said a Partner in the Business, drafted a List of potential Donations and Fruman sent it, to the man he hoped would Bankroll the Effort. “I sent this list to the foreign national as part of an effort to get him to invest,” Fruman said. Fruman did Not name the potential Investors, but various Press Reports have identified him as, Andrey Muraviev, a Wealthy Russian and former Cement Industry Executive, who has sought to back numerous Legal Marijuana Ventures in the U.S.
To be Convicted under the Foreign-Donation Statute, a Defendant must be aware that their Conduct was against the Law. Fruman said he was, at least in General Terms.
“I had little experience, [but I] generally understood foreign nationals and individuals who are not American citizens are not allowed to make political donations in the United States,” Fruman said. “I deeply regret my actions and apologize to the court.”
Oetken set Sentencing for Fruman, for Jan. 21st, 2022, to allow time to take Account of any Developments at the Trial, set for next month.
Fruman faces a Maximum Sentence of, Five years in Prison, on the Charge he Pleaded to, Friday.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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