Globe fraudsters may try to evade law enforcement agencies intending to prosecute them. But they are not focused on the tenacity of public servants like Kathryn Kopita, an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Ms. Kopita’s work in prosecuting criminals who illegally billed more than 1,300 small businesses, medical providers and schools with fake online directory listings is one of the reasons the FTC’s Criminal Communications Unit (CLU) honored her with a Prosecuting Attorney Award. .
The scheme involved sending small business owners and non-profit groups fake invoices for online advertising services they didn’t order and never authorized. Scammers send fake collection notices to people when they don’t pay the fake bills. Concerned about the consequences, many businesses say, “Uncle!” they cried. And they paid the money they did not owe.
USA Kopita received an indictment against defendants Ivan and Stephan Chernev and a third accomplice in 2017, but faced challenges in tracking down the defendants and extraditing them to the United States. Ms. Kopita, in cooperation with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, extradited Ivan Chernev from Italy in 2019 and Stefan Chernev from Germany in 2022.
Ivan Chernev eventually pleaded guilty, admitting that he and his co-conspirators used false billing schemes to steal money from small businesses, health care offices and schools. Chernev was sentenced to 68 months in prison and must pay $1.25 million in fines. Criminal charges against Stepan Chernev are ongoing.
The good news for consumers — and the bad news for fraudsters — is that U.S. law enforcement agencies and their international partners are coordinating their efforts to prosecute lawbreakers. For example, in this case, AUSA Kopita worked with the FTC in support of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Of course, Ivan Chernev was no stranger to the FTC. The agency Financial relief.
Law enforcement partnerships are part of the FTC’s day-to-day work, but we still want to commend prosecutors for their exemplary efforts to protect consumers. That’s why the FTC’s Division of Criminal Communications was proud to present Kathryn Kopita with the Prosecuting Attorney Award at a ceremony last week in Albany, New York.
In the year Since its inception in 2003, the FTC’s CLU has contributed to the successful prosecution of more than 1,000 criminal defendants – fraudulent telemarketers, fraudulent debt collectors, immigration fraudsters and others who prey on consumers. Watch this video to learn more about CLU’s work. Want the inside story on how fraudsters can target your company? Read the FTC‘Scams and your small business.
