SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a stunning revelation, Anton Andreyevich Iagounov, 38, of South Lake Tahoe, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of falsely impersonating a federal officer.
Iagounov allegedly crafted false investigative documents, purporting to be sent by a federal agent, in an attempt to deceive and obtain government documents and sensitive information. On July 5, 2022, he sent what appeared to be a search warrant to the U.S. Capitol Police, signed by a fictitious Special Agent of the NASA Office of the Inspector General.
On July 11, 2022, Iagounov reused his scheme, this time targeting the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California with another fake search warrant. His email address, cleverly designed to mimic a government agency’s domain, was instrumental in his deception.
The fraud spree didn’t end there. On July 18, 2022, Iagounov sent yet another fake search warrant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia, all under the guise of being an agent with NASA-OIG.
On July 24, 2022, he took his antics to a new level by faxing a letter under the name of a real NASA employee to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, demanding a judge’s signature on a non-existent search warrant.
The courts and federal agencies swiftly identified these documents as fraudulent. The investigation leading to this charge was a collaborative effort between the FBI, NASA Office of the Inspector General, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and Carson City Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is handling the prosecution. If convicted, Iagounov could face up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count. This case underscores the lengths some will go to deceive authorities, and the diligent work of federal agencies in thwarting such attempts.
Related Federal Cases
- Lake Tahoe Man Falsely Impersonates Federal Agent · Georgia
- Gun Traffickers from South Carolina Sentenced to Federal Prison · North Carolina
- Gun Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison in South Carolina · North Carolina
- Timothy G. Fisher Guilty in $179M Sham Loan Scheme · Illinois
- $3.9M Seized in International Wildlife Trafficking Bust · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News