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Richard Pinedo, who pleaded guilty to one count of identity
fraud in February, could face between 12 to 18 months in prison
and a fine of $5,500 to $55,000, according to U.S. sentencing
guidelines.
The indictment against the Russians makes no mention of Pinedo
by name. However, a source familiar with the case told Reuters
he is referred in the charging documents as the person who
helped the Russian conspirators launder money, as well as
purchase Facebook ads and pay for rally supplies, through PayPal
Holdings Inc.
The criminal charge against Pinedo was announced in February by
Mueller's office at the same time it unveiled an indictment
against 13 Russians and three Russian companies on charges they
adopted fake online personas to push divisive messages, traveled
to the United States to collect intelligence and staged
political rallies.
Mueller's investigation has issued several indictments and
accepted guilty pleas as it investigates Russian meddling in the
2016 presidential election.
Pinedo's attorney, Jeremy Lessem, has said his client had no
knowledge of the identities or the motivations of those who
purchased the information he sold.
According to the indictment against the 13 Russians, the
defendants in 2016 used Social Security numbers and birth dates
of real U.S. people to open PayPal accounts and to create fake
drivers licenses and open social media accounts.
The United States does not have an extradition treaty with
Russia. However, one of the Russian companies charged in the
indictment - Concord Management and Consulting LLC - has hired
American attorneys to fight the charges.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch)
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