Former Federal Agents Urge State Department to Secure Gambaryan's Release from Nigerian Custody
Summary:
More than 100 former U.S. federal prosecutors and agents are urging the U.S. Department of State to help secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance's head of financial crimes and compliance, from detention in Nigeria. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, these past officials credited Gambaryan's ten-year service in the IRS and firmly asserted his innocence. He was detained when visiting Nigeria to negotiate financial compliance matters and is held on accusations of money laundering and tax evasion.
A group encompassing over 100 past United States federal agents and prosecutors have endorsed a letter urging the U.S. Department of State to orchestrate the liberation of Tigran Gambaryan, who serves as the chief of financial crimes and compliance at Binance, from detention in Nigeria. The letter, addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, firmly expressed that the U.S. government’s actions thus far have been inadequate, and warned of drastic consequences if the negligence continued. The letter, dated June 6, also highlighted Gambaryan’s ten-year commitment to the U.S. as a Special Agent in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The authors of the letter, all former government officials, recognized the dedication Gambaryan demonstrated in several high-profile cases, which encompassed child pornography, terrorism financing, identity theft, and the infamous Silk Road public corruption cases. They have collectively affirmed their faith in Gambaryan’s innocence and claim he is held on baseless accusations of money laundering and tax evasion. They argue that Gambaryan’s role in Binance is not of such importance to make him answerable for the company's actions.
Earlier this year, Gambaryan and several other Binance employees went to Nigeria to negotiate on financial compliance matters with Nigerian functionaries. During their visit, these officials requested a sizable payment to act upon Binance related compliance issues. This unexpected request led the group to swiftly leave Nigeria due to security concerns. Nonetheless, just a month later, Gambaryan was called back to Nigeria, where his passport was confiscated and he was subsequently detained.
In February, Nadeem Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were apprehended by the Nigerian government under suspicion of money laundering and tax evasion. Anjarwalla managed to evade custody and took refuge in Kenya, whereas Gambaryan has been held in the Kuje correctional center in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.
Published At
6/7/2024 9:26:41 AM
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