The person at the center of this case
United States Government / American Citizens
Cold Case · Open
8 years waiting · since 2018
VLADIMIR VENKOV
Justice for United States Government / American Citizens — the trail went cold in 2018, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Vladimir Venkov currently located and is he still in Russia or has he fled to another country?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How many fake American personas did Venkov operate and which social media platforms were used for IRA operations?
💡
clue
Lead #3Which real Americans' identities were stolen and used to open PayPal and bank accounts for IRA advertisements?
Vladimir Venkov, a Russian national working for the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, is wanted by the FBI for allegedly operating fake American social media accounts to interfere with U.S. elections and political processes between 2015 and 2018. He is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting after allegedly using stolen personal information of real Americans to fund IRA social media operations. Despite a federal arrest warrant issued in February 2018, Venkov remains at large, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
Case
#921
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court for the District of Columbia
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
📞
contact
Lead #4Does Venkov maintain contact with other IRA operatives or have associates in the United States who could be located?
⏰
timeline
Lead #5What was the extent of Venkov's involvement in the 2016 Presidential Election interference campaign?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States; Aggravated Identity Theft (6 counts); Aiding and Abetting Caution: Vladimir Venkov is wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful functions of the Federal Election Commission, the United States Department of Justice, and the United States Department of State. This occurred in Washington, D.C., from March of 2015 to February 16, 2018.
Venkov worked within the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency’s (IRA) Translator Project, the company’s US-focused contingent that allegedly conducted operations on social media platforms.
Venkov allegedly operated multiple United States personas on social media which he allegedly used to post and monitor content on behalf of the IRA. Venkov is also charged with aggravated identity theft after allegedly using personal information of actual Americans without their knowledge to open PayPal and bank accounts to pay for IRA-funded advertisements promoting IRA social media accounts and content.
These actions were performed in support of the IRA’s alleged efforts to reach significant numbers of Americans for the purposes of interfering with the United States political system, including the 2016 Presidential Election. On February 16, 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Vladimir Venkov in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia after he was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting.
Remarks: Venkov speaks Russian and English. He has ties to Russia.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2015-03-01
IRA Operations Begin
Vladimir Venkov begins working within the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency's Translator Project, operating fake U.S. social media personas.
👤
2018-02-16
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant is issued for Vladimir Venkov in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for conspiracy to defraud the United States, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 1, 2015
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
Up to $75,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:March 1, 2015
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
Up to $75,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case