Philadelphia Fugitive Placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” List
| FBI Philadelphia October 21, 2009 |
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) today announced the addition of Semion Mogilevich to its “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Mogilevich is being sought for his alleged involvement in racketeering, fraud, and money laundering activities. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Semion Mogilevich is wanted for his alleged participation in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud thousands of investors in the stock of a public company incorporated in Canada, but headquartered in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Investors lost more than 150 million dollars through the alleged scheme that included inflating stock values, preparing bogus financial books and records, lying to Securities and Exchange Commission officials, and offering bribes to accountants. The scheme to defraud collapsed on May 13, 1998, when federal search warrants were executed in Pennsylvania and trading of the stock was suspended.
A federal indictment, unsealed for Mogilevich on April 24, 2003, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, charges him with 45 counts of racketeering, securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that between 1993 and September of 1998, Semion Mogilevich headed and controlled the Mogilevich Enterprise, an association which consisted of numerous individuals and a network of companies in more than 20 different countries that orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to defraud investors in stock. The scheme was allegedly funded and authorized by Mogilevich. This complex network of corporations was set up to create the illusion of a profitable international business.
Semion Mogilevich is described as a White male, 5’6” to 5’7”, 290 pounds, with gray, balding hair and green eyes. He was born on June 30, 1946, in Kiev, Ukraine, but also uses July 5, 1946, as an alias date of birth. Mogilevich has pockmarks on his face. He has his primary residence in Moscow, Russia.
Semion Mogilevich is the 494th person to be placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list, which was established in March of 1950. Since then, 463 fugitives have been apprehended or located, 152 of them as a result of citizen cooperation.
A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for any information leading directly to the arrest of Semion Mogilevich. Individuals with information concerning Mogilevich should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the nearest office of the FBI or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Additional information regarding Semion Mogilevich, including his wanted poster, is available on the FBI’s Internet Home Page at http://www.fbi.gov.