Uzbek Nationals Charged In Human Smuggling And Money Laundering Scheme

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Pete Gizas, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging AKMAL RASULOV and ISKANDER SHUKUROV, both Uzbek nationals, with alien smuggling and money laundering. RASULOV and SHUKUROV were arrested this morning. SHUKUROV was ordered detained, and RASULOV has been released on bond. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.

"Smuggling foreign nationals into the United States is a serious crime that puts every American at risk," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Human smuggling also often involves exploitation, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse. It must be stopped. Drug cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and anyone else who seeks to undermine our sovereignty and security through human trafficking and smuggling will be prosecuted."

"Akmal Rasulov and Iskander Shukurov allegedly jeopardized our country's security by providing foreign nationals illegal entry into the United States for a hefty fee," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. "Alongside our federal partners, the FBI is committed to disrupting networks attempting to infiltrate our nation's borders."

"These charges reflect an alleged calculated effort to move people illegally into this country and wash the profits through our financial system, with no regard for the risks to our communities or our national security," said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. "By arresting these defendants, we are cutting into the command structure of an alleged smuggling operation that treated our borders as a business model. HSI New York, as a leading member of the Homeland Security Task Force, will continue to relentlessly pursue human smugglers and the money they need to operate."

As alleged in the Indictment:

Between at least 2021 and 2025, RASULOV and SHUKUROV operated an alien-smuggling business. RASULOV, SHUKUROV, and others charged thousands of dollars per person for each foreign national-principally citizens of Uzbekistan-in order to illegally transport them into the United States. RASULOV, SHUKUROV, and their co-conspirators arranged for the foreign nationals to either arrive at a U.S. port of entry without prior permission to enter the United States, or sneak across a land border without the required examination or inspection by immigration officers.

RASULOV and SHUKUROV worked with co-conspirators, including a Mexican citizen living in Mexico ("CC-1"). RASULOV and SHUKUROV repeatedly sent money to CC-1 so that CC-1 would connect aliens and smugglers in Mexico and then facilitate the transportation of the aliens from Mexico into the United States. RASULOV and SHUKUROV used international wire transfers to pay CC-1 for these services, including transfers from financial accounts in New York, New York. Some of the wire transfers included false information indicating that the payments were for "loan repayment" or "legal fees" to conceal the true purpose of the transactions.

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RASULOV, 39, and SHUKUROV, 52, both of Brooklyn, New York, are each charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The statutory maximum and minimum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI and HSI. He added that the investigation is ongoing.

The case is being handled by the Office's Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josiah Pertz is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.