https://www.bkreader.com/business-innovation/brooklyn-man-convicted-of-money-laundering-scheme-9264324

A federal jury convicted Alex Levin for helping an international crew of thieves, who stole millions of dollars worth of cash and jewelery from Eastern Europe, by laundering the money in Brooklyn.

Levin was convicted on both counts of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act in connection with his role in a scheme that resulted in the theft of millions of dollars and property from safe deposit boxes at multiple banks outside of the United States, including in Ukraine, Russia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Latvia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, according to a press release.

The verdict followed a seven-day trial before United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall. When sentenced, Levin faces up to 10 years in prison.

“The jury found that Levin played an integral role in a highly sophisticated and well-organized international crew of thieves who stole millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry and cash from banks in Eastern Europe,” said Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Levin’s role here in Brooklyn of laundering the cash and purchasing equipment used in the break-ins of safe deposit boxes overseas was crucial to the crew’s success, but with today’s verdict, that role proved to be the defendant’s undoing.”

As proved at trial, between March 2015 and October 2019, Levin was a member of a sophisticated group that targeted foreign banks that appeared to lack strong security features. Members of the conspiracy posed as customers at the target banks and rented safe deposit boxes. After gaining access to safe deposit box rooms, the conspirators used specialized medical equipment to take photographs of the inside of the locks of other customers’ safe deposit boxes. Using these photographs, the conspirators created duplicate keys for the safe deposit boxes in order to steal money and valuables from customers at the foreign banks.

Levin’s role in the conspiracy was based in Brooklyn. He assisted in laundering the proceeds of the scheme to the United States. Specifically, on July 31, 2015, Glenport Merchants LLP, a company with a Latvian bank account, wired $150,000 to Levin. Shortly thereafter, Levin wired $144,727 to a member of the conspiracy who personally participated in the bank heists, the press release said.

Levin also used bank accounts in the United States, including accounts located in the Eastern District of New York, to purchase sophisticated camera equipment used in the thefts, including borescopes, which are small, specialized, medical grade cameras.