Feds Look to Seize & Sell Hamptons Mansion Tied to Russian Oligarch

Feds Look to Seize & Sell Hamptons Mansion Tied to Russian Oligarch

 By: Marty Raminoff

The Federal government is trying to seize several high-end homes owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch.

As reported by the NY Post, the U.S. government is looking to seize property tied to Viktor Vekselberg, sell them and to give the proceeds to the Ukrainian people.  Last week marked the one-year anniversary of Russian’s invasion of Ukraine.  On this date, US investigators requested that a judge grant permission to seize a mansion at 19 Duck Pond Lane in Southampton, along with two Park Avenue condos and others on Fisher Island in Florida.  The properties combined are worth over $75 million, and were purchased with funds tied to Ukrainian-born billionaire Vekselberg, as per an unsealed complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.

Vekselberg, 65, is a metals, mining and energy oligarch with an estimated net worth of $9.3 billion as of Nov. 2021. From 1978 to 1990 he worked as a researcher and head of the laboratory at the research center for the development of oil immersion equipment. Since October 1990, he was Deputy General Director of the Renova JV (created together with Leonard Blavatnik), then the President of Renova CJSC.

Last March, Vekselberg was one of the persons whose assets were seized by the US Treasury for his close ties with President Vladimir Putin, and for “enabling Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked war,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.  Back in 2018, he was first sanctioned for his role furthering Russia’s “malign activity around the globe,”    In April, Vekselberg’s $90 million superyacht, named Tango, was seized at the request of the US government, while docked in Spain.  As previously reported by the Post, a $90 million jet tied to Vekselberg has also been frozen.  American companies have been barred from doing business with Vekselberg’s companies. The feds would like these homes to be seized as well.  Prosecutors claim Vekselberg used the properties to launder money and evade sanctions.

The Southampton mansion was last purchased for $11.44 million in 2008, with money tied to Vekselberg.  The traditional, cedar-shingled residence, built in 1998, spans 9,200-square-feet and boasts nine bedrooms.  The 1.84 acre property features a pool, a tennis court, a gym, library, hardwood floors, five fireplaces, and a chef’s kitchen.  The home first hit the market in the fall of 2021 asking $15.99 million, and was last asking $14.99 million.

Per the Post, federal investigators also requested the judge to grant permission to seize other properties– including two condos at 515 Park Avenue.  The first condo in the 43-story limestone pre-war tower was purchased in 2008 for $11 million.  The second was bought for $610,000 in 2012. In addition, investigators want permission to seize a condo at 7183 Fisher Island Drive in Florida.  The Sunny state home was purchased for $6.2 million in 2010 and a penthouse at 7002 Fisher Island Drive was bought for $31.2 million in 2017.

In September, federal agents had raided the Southampton home and Upper East Side condo. FBI officials and Homeland Security Investigation agents had been reportedly seen carrying boxes out of Vekselberg’s 515 Park Ave.