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Another arrested from BoNY
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November 30, 1999: 4:52 p.m. ET
Associate charged with lying about funds received from others already indicted
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - A former Bank of New York employee was arrested Tuesday on federal charges of lying about her relationship with two individuals accused of participating in an alleged Russian money laundering scheme.
Svetlana Kudryavtsev, a former international banking associate in the Bank of New York’s eastern European division, was charged with making false statements to FBI agents during a mid-August inquiry.
According the U.S. attorney’s criminal complaint, which was filed in Manhattan federal court Monday and unsealed Tuesday, Kudryavtsev allegedly lied about receiving money from former colleague Lucy Edwards and Peter Berlin, Edwards’ husband, a Russian émigré who ran the Benex International and BECS International organizations.
Edwards, a former vice president in BoNY’s eastern European division, and Berlin were indicted last month on charges they helped move about $7 billion in illicit funds through the bank. Federal prosecutors believe the entire money laundering scheme through the Bank of New York, which now has led to seven indictments, could have reached as high as $10 billion.
FBI agents believe Kudryavtsev received more than $30,000 from Berlin, via Benex, and Edwards between 1995 and 1999.
The complaint alleges Kudryavtsev denied even having heard of Benex. However, federal prosecutors said a search of Kudryavtsev’s work area turned up about 30 wire transfer authorization forms signed by Berlin.
Kudryavtsev, 49, was arrested at her home in Brooklyn and was released after posting a $30,000 personal recognizance bond.
Kudryavtsev was fired by the bank in August after banking officials alleged she refused to cooperate with an internal investigation into accounts at the bank.
If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and the greater of a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense. 
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