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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

X INDICTMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

- v. SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVIC SAIPOV,

Defendant.

X

COUNTS ONE THROUGH EIGHT (Murder i n A i d of Racketeering A c t i v i t y )

•The Grand J u r y charges:

ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND AL-SHAM

1. At a l l r e l e v a n t times, there e x i s t e d a f o r e i g n

t e r r o r i s t organization known as, among other names, the I s l a m i c

State of I r a q and al-Sham ( " I S I S " ) . I S I S ' s p u b l i c l y s t a t e d

purpose i s the establishment of an I s l a m i c s t a t e or c a l i p h a t e

based i n the Middle East and A f r i c a t h a t encompasses a l l Muslims

worldwide.

2. I S I S has pursued the o b j e c t i v e of an I s l a m i c s t a t e

through, among other t h i n g s , k i l l i n g and d e l i b e r a t e t a r g e t i n g of

c i v i l i a n s , mass executions, persecution of i n d i v i d u a l s and

communities on the b a s i s of t h e i r r e l i g i o n , n a t i o n a l i t y , or

e t h n i c i t y , kidnapping of c i v i l i a n s , forced displacement of Shia

communities and m i n o r i t y groups, k i l l i n g and maiming of

c h i l d r e n , rape, and other forms of sexual v i o l e n c e . I S I S has

r e c r u i t e d thousands of f o r e i g n f i g h t e r s from across the globe to

a s s i s t with i t s e f f o r t s to expand i t s s o - c a l l e d c a l i p h a t e i n

I r a q , S y r i a , and other l o c a t i o n s i n A f r i c a and the Middle E a s t ,

and has leveraged technology to spread i t s v i o l e n t extremist

ideology and f o r incitement to commit t e r r o r i s t a c t s .

3. On October 15, 2004, the U.S. S e c r e t a r y of State

designated a l Qaeda i n I r a q ("AQI"), then known as Jam'at a l

Tawhid wa'al-Jihad, which was a precursor to I S I S , as a Foreign

T e r r o r i s t Organization ("FTO") under Section 219 of the

Immigration and N a t i o n a l i t y Act ("INA") and as a S p e c i a l l y

Designated Global T e r r o r i s t under s e c t i o n 1(b) of Executive

Order 13224.

4. On May 15, 2014, the Secretary of State amended the

designation of AQI as an FTO under Section 219 of the INA and as

a S p e c i a l l y Designated Global T e r r o r i s t e n t i t y under se c t i o n

1(b) of Executive Order 13224 to add the a l i a s I s l a m i c State of

I r a q and the Levant as i t s primary name. The Sec r e t a r y also

added the f o l l o w i n g a l i a s e s to the FTO l i s t i n g : I S I S , the

I s l a m i c State of I r a q and S y r i a , ad-Dawla a l - I s l a m i y y a f i a l -

^ I r a q wa-sh-Sham, Daesh, Dawla a l I s l a m i y a , and Al-Furqan

Establishment f o r Media Production. I n an audio recording

p u b l i c l y r eleased on June 29, 2014, I S I S announced a formal

change of i t s name to the I s l a m i c State. On September 21, 2015,

the Secretary added the fo l l o w i n g a l i a s e s to the FTO l i s t i n g :

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I s l a m i c S t a t e , I S I L , and I S I S . To date, I S I S remains a

designated FTO.

THE I S I S ENTERPRISE

5. At a l l times r e l e v a n t to t h i s Indictment, I S I S ,

i n c l u d i n g i t s leadership, membership, and a s s o c i a t e s ,

c o n s t i t u t e d an " e n t e r p r i s e , " as t h a t term i s defined i n T i t l e

18, United States Code, Section 1959(b)(2) — that i s , a group of

i n d i v i d u a l s associated i n f a c t , although not a l e g a l e n t i t y ,

which was engaged i n , and the a c t i v i t i e s of which a f f e c t e d ,

i n t e r s t a t e and f o r e i g n commerce. I S I S i s an organized t e r r o r i s t

group based i n the Middle East and A f r i c a t h at operates

worldwide and c o n s t i t u t e s an ongoing organization whose members

fun c t i o n as a continuing u n i t f o r a common purpose of achieving

the o b j e c t i v e s of the E n t e r p r i s e .

6. I S I S , through i t s l e a d e r s , members, and a s s o c i a t e s ,

engaged i n r a c k e t e e r i n g a c t i v i t y , as defined i n T i t l e 18, United

Sta t e s Code, Section 1959(b)(1) and 1961(1), namely, a c t s

i n d i c t a b l e under: ( i ) T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section

9 5 6 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( r e l a t i n g to conspiracy to murder, kidnap, or maim

persons abroad); ( i i ) T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 1114

( r e l a t i n g to k i l l i n g or attempted k i l l i n g of o f f i c e r s and

employees of the United S t a t e s ) ; ( i i i ) T i t l e 18, United S t a t e s

Code, Section 2332 ( r e l a t i n g to c e r t a i n homicides and other

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v i o l e n c e against United States n a t i o n a l s occurring outside of

the United S t a t e s ) ; ( i v ) T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section

2332a ( r e l a t i n g to use of weapons of mass d e s t r u c t i o n ) ; (v)

T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 2332b ( r e l a t i n g to a c t s of

t e r r o r i s m transcending n a t i o n a l boundaries); ( v i ) T i t l e 18,

United States Code, Section 2332f ( r e l a t i n g to bombing of p u b l i c

places and f a c i l i t i e s ) ; ( v i i ) T i t l e 18, United States Code,

Section 2339A ( r e l a t i n g to providing m a t e r i a l support to

t e r r o r i s t s ) ; and ( v i i i ) T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section

2339B ( r e l a t i n g to providing m a t e r i a l support to t e r r o r i s t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s ) .

7. I S I S ' s p r i n c i p a l purpose i s to maintain i t s s e l f -

proclaimed I s l a m i c s t a t e based i n the Middle East and A f r i c a ,

and to continue conquering t e r r i t o r y u n t i l I S I S ' s c a l i p h a t e

covers the e n t i r e world. I S I S attempts to achieve t h i s goal

through va r i o u s means i n c l u d i n g the promotion and execution of

acts of t e r r o r i s m ; preserving and p r o t e c t i n g the power,

t e r r i t o r y , and p r o f i t s of I S I S through murder, attempted murder,

and other a c t s of violence and t e r r o r i s m ; and promoting and

enhancing the E n t e r p r i s e and the a c t i v i t i e s of i t s members and

a s s o c i a t e s .

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MEANS AND METHODS OF THE ENTERPRISE

8. Among the means and methods employed by I S I S ' s members

and a s s o c i a t e s i n conducting and p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n the conduct of

the E n t e r p r i s e ' s a f f a i r s are the fol l o w i n g :

a. I S I S members and ass o c i a t e s s o l i c i t , organize,

and c a r r y out acts of v i o l e n c e , i n t i m i d a t i o n , and t h r e a t s ,

i n c l u d i n g murders, s u i c i d e bombings, and kidnappings, and

s o l i c i t and cause others to do so, with the i n t e n t to e s t a b l i s h

a global I s l a m i c s t a t e .

b. I S I S members and ass o c i a t e s make and disseminate

r e c r u i t i n g m a t e r i a l s and propaganda encouraging others to j o i n

I S I S and pe r s o n a l l y p a r t i c i p a t e i n acts of v i o l e n c e , i n c l u d i n g

i n s u i c i d e a t t a c k s , m a t e r i a l s which are d i s t r i b u t e d over the

I n t e r n e t to increase and f u r t h e r the p u b l i c perception of I S I S

as a t e r r o r i s t o rganization. These m a t e r i a l s include propaganda

designed to encourage I S I S f o l l o w e r s to commit ac t s of viole n c e

using v e h i c l e s as weapons. For example, the J u l y 2016 i s s u e of

Dabiq, I S I S ' s t h e n - o f f i c i a l magazine, p r a i s e d the "brother" who

answered "the I s l a m i c S t a t e ' s c a l l s to t a r g e t nations

p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n the Crusader c o a l i t i o n f i g h t i n g the Caliph a t e "

by " k i l l i n g more than 8 0 people and i n j u r i n g more than 300

others" with a t r u c k i n an att a c k that occurred i n Nice, France,

on or about J u l y 14, 2016. I n September 2016, I S I S changed the

name of i t s o f f i c i a l magazine from Dabiq to Rumiyah. I n

November 2016, I S I S r e l e a s e d Rumiyah, Issue 3, which has an

a r t i c l e t i t l e d " J u s t T e r r o r T a c t i c s , " which again focused on a

v e h i c l e a t t a c k as a primary a t t a c k weapon with a secondary

a t t a c k using a k n i f e or gun to maximize the " k i l l count" and

t e r r o r .

c. I S I S members and as s o c i a t e s make and disseminate

r e c r u i t i n g m a t e r i a l s and propaganda encouraging others who are

unable to t r a v e l to the Middle East to in s t e a d conduct a t t a c k s

i n other countries. For example, on or about March 31, 2015,

the user of T w i t t e r account @AbuHu55ain_, bel i e v e d to be used a t

the time by an I S I S member located i n S y r i a , tweeted: "Lone

Wolfs R i s e Dp"; " I f you can't make the h i j r a h [ i . e . , t r a v e l to

the Middle E a s t ] , dont s i t at home & give up . . . i g n i t e a

bomb, stab a k a f f i r [ i . e . , the d i s b e l i e v e r s or non-Muslims], or

shoot a p o l i t i c a n ! " ; " i f you came here, you'd be on the

f r o n t l i n e f i g h t i n g , r i g h t ? But u couldn't come here, so why not

f i g h t the k u f f a r over t h e r e ? " ; and " i always see i n the media

brothers g e t t i n g caught making h i j r a h , brothers know th a t your

j i h a d i s not over j u s t because you got stopped."

d. I S I S members and as s o c i a t e s make and have made

p u b l i c statements and is s u e d p u b l i c d e c l a r a t i o n s , which, among

other things: ( i ) proclaimed and acknowledged a c t s of v i o l e n c e

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had been committed by I S I S ; ( i i ) threatened f u t u r e a c t s of

v i o l e n c e i f I S I S ' s demands were not met; and ( i i i ) were intended

to promote and f o s t e r the p r e s t i g e and standing of I S I S . I n

addition to the a t t a c k i n Nice, France, referenced above, I S I S

has p u b l i c l y claimed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the f o l l o w i n g t e r r o r i s t

a t t a c k s , among others: (1) on or about November 13 and 14, 2015,

a group of a t t a c k e r s c a r r i e d out a t t a c k s i n P a r i s , France, which

k i l l e d approximately 130 people; and (2) on or about March 22,

2016, a group of a t t a c k e r s c a r r i e d out bombings i n B r u s s e l s ,

Belgium, which k i l l e d at l e a s t 32 people.

e. I S I S members and a s s o c i a t e s have rece i v e d money

and other forms of support f o r I S I S ' s a c t i v i t i e s from

i n d i v i d u a l s i n the United States and elsewhere.

f. I S I S members and a s s o c i a t e s use i n s t r u m e n t a l i t i e s

and f a c i l i t i e s of i n t e r s t a t e and f o r e i g n commerce, i n c l u d i n g

telephones, computers, m a i l , and wire f a c i l i t i e s to communicate,

promote, and conduct the a f f a i r s of I S I S .

STATUTORY ALLEGATIONS

9. On or about October 31, 2017, i n the Southern D i s t r i c t

of New York and elsewhere, SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVIC SAIPOV, the

defendant, f o r the purpose of gaining entrance to I S I S , an

e n t e r p r i s e engaged i n r a c k e t e e r i n g a c t i v i t y , as described above,

i n t e n t i o n a l l y and knowingly murdered the eight v i c t i m s l i s t e d

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below, that i s , w ith the i n t e n t to cause the death of the

v i c t i m s , did cause the death of the v i c t i m s and under

circumstances e v i n c i n g a depraved i n d i f f e r e n c e to human l i f e ,

d i d r e c k l e s s l y engage i n conduct which created a grave r i s k of

death to another person, and thereby caused the death of the

v i c t i m s , i n the v i c i n i t y of New York, New York, i n v i o l a t i o n of

New York Penal Law, Sections 125.25.

i Count L _ _ ... . . _; One Diego Enrique A n g e l i n i

Two Nicholas Cleves

Three Ann-Laure Decadt

Four Darren Drake

F i v e A r i e l E r l i j

S i x Hernan F e r r u c h i

Seven Hernan Diego Mendoza

Eight Alejandro Damian Pagrucco

( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 1 9 5 9 ( a ) ( 1 ) . )

COUNTS NINE THROUGH TWENTY (Attempted Murder i n A i d of Racketeering A c t i v i t y )

The Grand J u r y f u r t h e r charges:

10. Paragraphs One through Eight of the Indictment are

realle g e d and incorporated by reference as though f u l l y s e t f o r t h

herein.

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of New York and elsewhere, SAYFULLO HABIBDLLAEVIC SAIPOV, the.

defendant, f o r the purpose of gaining entrance to I S I S , an

e n t e r p r i s e engaged i n r a c k e t e e r i n g a c t i v i t y , as described above,

i n t e n t i o n a l l y and knowingly attempted to murder the twelve

v i c t i m s l i s t e d below, i n the v i c i n i t y of New York, New York, i n

v i o l a t i o n of New York Penal Law, Sections 125.25 and 110.00.

! V i c t i m

Nine T.B.

Ten M.C.

Eleven M.C.

Twelve S.H.

T h i r t e e n A.M.

Fourteen D.M.

F i f t e e n K.L.

Sixteen M.M.

Seventeen R.T.H.

Eighteen N. S.

Nineteen M.V.R.

Twenty Y.Z.

( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 1 9 5 9 ( a ) ( 5 ) . )

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COUNT TWENTY ONE (Pr o v i s i o n of M a t e r i a l Support and Resources to a Designated

Foreign T e r r o r i s t Organization)



r e a l l e g e d and incorporated by reference as though f u l l y set f o r t h

herein.

13. From at l e a s t i n or about October 2017, up to and

in c l u d i n g the date of t h i s Indictment, i n the Southern D i s t r i c t


defendant, did knowingly and i n t e n t i o n a l l y provide, and attempt

to provide, " m a t e r i a l support or resources," as th a t term i s

defined i n T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 2339A(b),

namely, s e r v i c e s and personnel ( i n c l u d i n g h i m s e l f ) , to a fo r e i g n

t e r r o r i s t organization, namely, I S I S , which at a l l r e l e v a n t

times was designated by the Secretary of State as a for e i g n

t e r r o r i s t organization pursuant to Section 219 of the

Immigration and N a t i o n a l i t y Act, knowing t h a t I S I S was a

designated f o r e i g n t e r r o r i s t organization (as defined i n T i t l e

18, United St a t e s Code, Section 2339B(g) (6) ) , t h a t I S I S engages

and has engaged i n t e r r o r i s t a c t i v i t y (as defined i n s e c t i o n

212(a) (3) (B) of the INA), and th a t I S I S engages and has engaged •

i n t e r r o r i s m (as defined i n s e c t i o n 140(d)(2) of the Foreign

R e l a t i o n s A u t h o r i z a t i o n Act, F i s c a l Years 1988 and 1989),

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thereby causing the death of at l e a s t one person, a l l i n

v i o l a t i o n of T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 2 3 3 9 B ( a ) ( 1 ) ,

and ( i ) the offense occurred i n whole or i n p a r t w i t h i n the

United S t a t e s , and ( i i ) the offense occurred^in and a f f e c t e d

i n t e r s t a t e and for e i g n commerce, to w i t , SAIPOV drove a t r u c k

onto a bike lane and a pedestrian walkway i n New York, New York,

i n t e n t i o n a l l y k i l l i n g at l e a s t eight i n d i v i d u a l s and i n j u r i n g at

l e a s t twelve more i n d i v i d u a l s .

( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 2339B.) COUNT TWENTY TWO

(Violence and D e s t r u c t i o n of Motor V e h i c l e s )



r e a l l e g e d and incorporated by reference as though f u l l y set f o r t h

herein.



defendant, did w i l l f u l l y , w ith i n t e n t to endanger the s a f e t y of

any person on board and of anyone whom he bel i e v e d would be on

board, and wit h a r e c k l e s s d i s r e g a r d f o r the s a f e t y of human

l i f e , damage, d i s a b l e , and destroy a motor v e h i c l e t h a t was

used, operated, and employed i n i n t e r s t a t e and fo r e i g n commerce,

thereby causing the death of at l e a s t one person, to w i t , SAIPOV

damaged a t r u c k t h a t was used, operated, and employed i n

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i n t e r s t a t e and fo r e i g n commerce, and that was used f o r

commercial purposes on the highways i n the t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of

passengers, passengers and property, and property and cargo,

when SAIPOV drove the t r u c k onto a bike lane and a pedestrian

walkway i n New York, New York, with r e c k l e s s disregard f o r human

l i f e , causing the deaths of at l e a s t eight i n d i v i d u a l s and

i n j u r i n g at l e a s t twelve more i n d i v i d u a l s .

( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Sections 3 3 ( a ) , 34.) SPECIAL FINDINGS AS TO SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVIC SAIPOV

16. Counts One through Eight and Twenty Two of the

Indictment are real l e g e d and incorporated by reference as though

f u l l y s e t f o r t h herein. As to Counts One through Eight and

Twenty Two of the Indictment, a l l e g i n g the murders of Diego

Enrique A n g e l i n i , Nicholas Cleves, Ann-Laure Decadt, Darren

Drake, A r i e l E r l i j , Hernan F e r r u c h i , Alejandro Damian Pagrucco,

and Hernan Diego Mendoza, the defendant SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVIC

SAIPOV:

a. was eighteen years of age or older a t the time of

the offense ( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section 3 5 9 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ) ;

b. i n t e n t i o n a l l y k i l l e d the v i c t i m s ( T i t l e 18,

United States Code, Section 3 5 9 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( A ) ) ;

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c. i n t e n t i o n a l l y i n f l i c t e d s erious b o d i l y i n j u r y

t h a t r e s u l t e d i n the death of the v i c t i m s ( T i t l e 18, United

Sta t e s Code, Section 3 5 9 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ) ;

d. i n t e n t i o n a l l y p a r t i c i p a t e d i n an a c t ,

contemplating t h a t the l i f e of a person would be taken or

intending that l e t h a l force would be used i n connection with a

person, other than one of the p a r t i c i p a n t s i n the offense, and

the v i c t i m s died as a d i r e c t r e s u l t of the act ( T i t l e 18, United

Sta t e s Code, Section 3 5 9 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( C ) ) ;

e. i n t e n t i o n a l l y and s p e c i f i c a l l y engaged i n an act

of v i o l e n c e , knowing t h a t the act created a grave r i s k of death

to a person, other than one of the p a r t i c i p a n t s i n the offense,

such t h a t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the act c o n s t i t u t e d a r e c k l e s s

d i s r e g a r d f o r human l i f e and the v i c t i m s died as a d i r e c t r e s u l t

of the act ( T i t l e 1.8, United States Code, Section 3591(a) (2) (D) ) ;

f. caused the deaths of the v i c t i m s during the

commission and attempted commission of, and during the immediate

f l i g h t from the commission of, an offense under T i t l e 18, United

Sta t e s Code, Section 33 (d e s t r u c t i o n of motor v e h i c l e s ) ( T i t l e

18, United States Code, Section 3592(c) ( 1 ) ) ;

g. committed the offense i n an e s p e c i a l l y heinous,

c r u e l , and depraved manner i n that i t involved serious p h y s i c a l

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abuse to the v i c t i m s ( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section

3592(c) ( 6 ) ) ;

h. committed the offense a f t e r s u b s t a n t i a l planning

and premeditation to cause the death of the v i c t i m s and to commit

an act of t e r r o r i s m ( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Section

3592 (c) ( 9 ) ) ; and

i . i n t e n t i o n a l l y k i l l e d and attempted to k i l l more

than one person i n a s i n g l e c r i m i n a l episode ( T i t l e 18, United

States Code, Section 3592(c) (16) ) .

FORFEITURE ALLEGATION AS TO COUNT TWENTY ONE

17. As a r e s u l t of planning and p e r p e t r a t i n g Federal

crimes of t e r r o r i s m against the United S t a t e s , as defined i n 18

U.S.C. Section 2332b(g)(5), and as al l e g e d i n Count Twenty One

of t h i s Indictment, SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVTC SAIPOV, the

defendant, s h a l l f o r f e i t to the United S t a t e s , pursuant to T i t l e

18, United States Code, Section 9 8 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( G ) and T i t l e 28,

United S t a t e s Code, Sect i o n 2461:

a. A l l r i g h t , t i t l e , and i n t e r e s t i n a l l

a s s e t s , f o r e i g n and domestic;

b. A l l r i g h t , t i t l e and i n t e r e s t i n a l l a s s e t s ,

f o r e i g n and domestic, acquired and maintained with the i n t e n t

and f o r the purpose of supporting, planning, conducting, and

concealing a Federal crime of t e r r o r i s m against the United

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S t a t e s , c i t i z e n s and r e s i d e n t s of the United S t a t e s , and t h e i r

property; and

c. A l l r i g h t , t i t l e and i n t e r e s t i n a l l a s s e t s ,

f o r e i g n and domestic, derived from, involved i n , and used and

intended to be used to commit a Federal crime of t e r r o r i s m

against the United S t a t e s , c i t i z e n s and r e s i d e n t s of the United

S t a t e s , and t h e i r property;

i n c l u d i n g but not l i m i t e d to a sum of money representing the

value of the property described above as being subject to

f o r f e i t u r e .

S u b s t i t u t e Assets P r o v i s i o n

18. I f any of the above-described f o r f e i t a b l e property, as

a r e s u l t of any act or omission of SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVIC

SAIPOV, the defendant:

a. cannot be located upon the e x e r c i s e of due

d i l i g e n c e ;

b. has been t r a n s f e r r e d or sold to, or deposited, w i t h ,

a t h i r d person;

c. has been placed beyond the j u r i s d i c t i o n of the

Court;

d. has been s u b s t a n t i a l l y diminished i n value; or

e. has been commingled with other property which

cannot be subdivided without d i f f i c u l t y ,

15

i t i s the i n t e n t of the United S t a t e s , pursuant to 21 U.S.C

§ 853 (p) , and 28 U.S.C. § 2461 to seek f o r f e i t u r e of any other

property of the defendant up to the value of the above f o r f e i t a b l e

property.

( T i t l e 18, United S t a t e s Code, Sections 9 8 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( G ) , and 2332b(g) (5) and T i t l e 28, United S t a t e s Code, Section 2461.)

FOREPERSON Act i n g United S t a t e s Attorney

I S

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

- v. -

SAYFULLO HABIBULLAEVIC SAIPOV,

Defendant.

INDICTMENT

17 Cr. ( )

( T i t l e 18, United States Code, Sections 1 9 5 9 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 1 9 5 9 ( a ) ( 5 ) ,

2339B, 3 3 ( a ) , 34.)

JOON H. KIM Act i n g United St a t e s Attorney

A TRUE BI L L

Foreperson