Semen Mogilevich, the reputed Russian organized crime boss who allegedly laundered money through the Bank of New York (BONY), has given an interview to a leading Russian weekly. In it, he claims that he has been connected to the scandal only because one of his firms, coincidentally, has the word "Benex" in its name. Benex is the name of one of the companies set by Peter Berlin, who, along with his wife, former BONY employee Lucy Edwards, pleaded guilty in New York last week to money laundering and lesser charges (Moskovskie novosti, February 22). Investigators believe that nearly US$7 billion from Russia passed through Benex and other fund-transfer companies set up and operated by Berlin and Edwards into BONY. The couple, who are both Russian emigres, have apparently copped a plea and are cooperating with the U.S. authorities. According to a report this week, an organized crime group allegedly headed by Mogilevich and based in Budapest used the Edwards-Berlin channel to launder at least US$500 million (Newsweek, February 28).
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