Metalhouse president arrested for sanctions evasion and money laundering

John Can Unsalan, the president of Metalhouse LLC, has been indicted and arrested by the U.S. Justice Department. Unsalan is accused of violating U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two of Kurchenko’s companies. Allegedly, over a three-year period, Unsalan used his company to transfer $150 million to Kurchenko and his companies in exchange for steelmaking materials. According to the Justice Department, Unsalan is charged with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA); 10 counts of violating IEEPA; one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering; and ten counts of international money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conviction.

In a recent quote, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, “The arrest of John Can Unsalan should serve as a warning to those who seek to do business with sanctioned individuals or entities that endanger the security of the United States and our allies. The Justice Department is relentlessly pursuing those whose seek to evade sanctions imposed against the Russian regime and whose crimes enable the regime to continue its unjust, illegal war in Ukraine.”