The person at the center of this case
United States Federal Government / Electoral System
Cold Case · Open - Wanted by FBI
8 years waiting · since 2018
VLADIMIR VENKOV
Justice for United States Federal Government / Electoral System — 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 operating social media accounts?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How many fake U.S. personas did Venkov create and operate, and what was the total reach of IRA content he managed?
👤
person
Lead #3What other IRA operatives worked directly with Venkov and have they been identified or apprehended?
Vladimir Venkov, a Russian national working for the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, is wanted by the FBI for allegedly operating fake U.S. social media personas to interfere with American politics and the 2016 Presidential Election. Between March 2015 and February 2018, he allegedly used stolen identities of real Americans to open financial accounts that funded IRA-sponsored social media campaigns designed to deceive and manipulate U.S. voters. Despite a federal arrest warrant issued in February 2018, Venkov remains at large, and locating him is critical to understanding the full scope of foreign interference in U.S. elections.
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.
💡
clue
Lead #4Which American identities were stolen and used by Venkov to open financial accounts, and have victims been notified?
⏰
timeline
Lead #5What specific social media platforms and accounts were used in Venkov's operations between 2015 and 2018?
Have information about any of these leads?
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
Conspiracy Period Begins
Vladimir Venkov begins operating fake U.S. social media personas for the Internet Research Agency's Translator Project
⏰
2016-11-08
2016 U.S. Presidential Election
Election day; IRA operations allegedly designed to interfere with this election were ongoing
👤
2018-02-16
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
Warrant issued in U.S. 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:June 14, 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:June 14, 2026
Up to $75,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case