Russian oligarch charged in illegal campaign contributions scheme

Washington — A Russian oligarch was indicted by federal prosecutors in a scheme to make illegal campaign contributions in the 2018 elections to help bolster a potential business in the marijuana industry. 

The Justice Department accused Andrey Muraviev, 47, of planning to steer $1 million in political donations to candidates for federal and state office who could help him and co-conspirators obtain cannabis and marijuana licenses for their future business venture. The co-conspirators in the case, Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and Andrey Kukushkin, have already been charged for their roles in the scheme. 

Fruman pleaded guilty in September, while Parnas and Kukushkin were convicted in October.