In a move reflecting escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a list of sanctions targeting 500 American individuals from various businesses, government agencies, and the entertainment industry. Among those affected is BJ Kang, the former head of investigations at Binance US.
The action by Russia comes as the standoff between the two countries intensifies. During the Summit on May 19, the United States and Japan declared their intention to impose sanctions on hundreds of organizations and individuals involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to information published on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, individuals on the restricted list are prohibited from traveling to Russia. The announcement made on May 19 includes several notable figures such as former US President Barack Obama, comedian Seth Meyers, and talk show host Stephen Colbert. BJ Kang, ranked 147th on the list, is a former special agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Kang has 20 years of experience working at the FBI, particularly in the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF) at the Washington Field Office. During his tenure at the NCIJTF, Kang collaborated with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in handling cryptocurrency-related cases.
Additionally, Kang earned the moniker of the “most feared man on Wall Street” after his involvement in bringing down Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind a $65 billion Ponzi scheme. He also led the investigation into Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of the Galleon Group hedge fund. Rajaratnam faced insider trading charges brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
BJ Kang Implicated in Raj Rajaratnam Case, According to Wall Street Journal
In October 2022, Binance US established a new investigative unit to combat illicit activities on the platform, with BJ Kang announced as the head of the team. The company revealed that Kang would assist Binance US in collaborating with law enforcement agencies and building a comprehensive investigative infrastructure for the exchange.
The Russian authorities did not specify the reason for Kang’s inclusion on the restricted list. The agency’s statement mentioned Kang as a current FBI agent who had joined Binance last year, but left the federal investigative team.
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