Alexander Veniamin Sviridiuk, Student Loan Fraud, WA, 2023

TACOMA, WA – Alexander Veniamin Sviridiuk, 35, of Happy Valley, Oregon, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced yesterday to 54 months for orchestrating a brazen student loan fraud targeting vulnerable members of the Russian immigrant community. U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced the sentence, a grim culmination of a case exposing a calculated scheme to line Sviridiuk’s pockets at the expense of those seeking a better life.

The scheme, operating between March and August of 2008, involved Sviridiuk advertising his “assistance” to immigrants facing financial hardship. He falsely promised access to cash through student loans, conveniently omitting the small detail of actually *attending* college. Sviridiuk, along with his cousin, Natalya Sviridiuk, submitted 55 fraudulent applications, resulting in $932,630 in funded loans. To date, a paltry $30,000 has been recovered, leaving a staggering loss exceeding $900,000.

The method was chillingly simple. Using the personal information of unsuspecting immigrants, Sviridiuk and his cousin fabricated applications claiming enrollment at Washington State University or the University of California at Irvine. Fake email accounts were created and used to register for classes, deceiving lenders into believing legitimate students were applying for aid. Once the funds were dispersed, the immigrants – many with limited English proficiency – would withdraw from the universities, leaving Sviridiuk to pocket a percentage of the loan, plus additional fees. He didn’t limit his reach, recruiting victims from as far afield as California and Colorado.

Prosecutors painted a damning picture of Sviridiuk in their sentencing memo, highlighting the predatory nature of the scheme. “Sviridiuk involved numerous other individuals in his scheme and forever changed many of their lives,” they wrote. “These individuals…put their trust in him. As a member of their community, they relied upon him and his expertise to help them. Instead, he took advantage of them.” Sviridiuk was convicted in October 2012 following a five-day jury trial. His cousin pleaded guilty in February 2012 and awaits sentencing next month.

Judge Benjamin H. Settle will hold a second hearing in August 2013 to determine the amount of restitution Sviridiuk will be required to pay. However, with the vast majority of the stolen funds still missing, full compensation for the victims remains a distant prospect. This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of immigrant communities and the lengths to which some will go to exploit them.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney C. Andrew Colasurdo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs, a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor assigned to federal cases. Sviridiuk will also face five years of supervised release following his prison term.