Iurii Gugnin, founder of Evita Investments and Evita Pay, faces a 22-count DOJ indictment for laundering over $500 million, primarily using Tether. The Russian national allegedly funneled funds from sanctioned Russian banks and entities through the U.S. financial system, lying to banks and exchanges about his dealings. He's also accused of manipulating invoices and lacking proper AML protocols, facilitating payments for sanctioned Russian clients and helping acquire sensitive U.S. technology. Arrested and held without bail, Gugnin faces charges including wire and bank fraud, and sanctions violations, potentially leading to a lengthy prison sentence.