⏱ 3 min read
Vladimir Sklarov, aka Val Sklarov, aka Gregory Mitchell, aka Mark Simon Bentley, orchestrated a massive $450 million stock-backed lending scheme that defrauded a victim of valuable company shares in New York. The scheme, which lasted from at least 2021 to 2024, involved Sklarov’s entity, Astor Asset Group, posing as a legitimate company affiliated with the New York Astor family to gain trust and control of hundreds of millions of dollars in stock. Sklarov was arrested in Chicago on May 4, 2026, and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman in the Northern District of Illinois.
The FBI and the DOJ allege that Sklarov used false prestige to gain control of the stock and then liquidated those shares for his own benefit. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton warned investors to beware of individuals who use fake affiliations and prestige to gain trust, and to report any suspicious activity to the SEC, FINRA, the FBI, and the DOJ.
The FBI is committed to investigating fraudsters who abuse trust and exploit others for personal gain. Sklarov’s alleged scheme is a prime example of the type of white-collar crime that the FBI and the DOJ are working to prevent and prosecute. As the case moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Sklarov’s defense team responds to the allegations and what evidence the prosecution will present to support their claims.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications for investors and financial institutions, highlighting the importance of due diligence and vigilance in preventing similar schemes. The FBI and the DOJ will continue to work together to protect the integrity of the markets and hold individuals like Sklarov accountable for their actions.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
