Iurii Gugnin, founder of Evita Pay, has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with using the crypto platform to facilitate money laundering for sanctioned Russian banks. Gugnin allegedly processed approximately $530 million in USDT transactions from June 2023 to January 2025, aiding Russia in acquiring U.S. products. The DOJ has filed 22 charges against Gugnin, who could face life imprisonment if convicted. The charges include bank fraud, invoice forgery, and violations of anti-money laundering regulations, as Gugnin is accused of turning Evita Pay into a conduit for illicit financial activities.