The person at the center of this case
United States Government / American Citizens
Cold Case · Open - Wanted by FBI
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 what is his current status?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How many fake social media accounts did Venkov operate and which platforms were targeted?
🔍
evidence
Lead #3How many Americans' identities were stolen and misused to create fraudulent PayPal and bank accounts?
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 from 2015 to 2018 to interfere with U.S. elections and government functions. He is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, aggravated identity theft using real Americans' personal information, and aiding and abetting in a coordinated influence operation. A federal arrest warrant was issued on February 16, 2018, and Venkov remains at large with ties to Russia.
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 #4What specific IRA-funded advertisements and social media content did Venkov post and monitor?
📞
contact
Lead #5Does Venkov have known associates or collaborators within the IRA still at large?
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
IRA Operations Begin
Vladimir Venkov begins operating multiple fake U.S. personas on social media platforms for the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency's Translator Project
📋
2016
2016 Presidential Election Interference
Venkov's fake accounts and identity theft activities allegedly conducted to interfere with the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
🕵️
2018-02-16
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant issued in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia charging Venkov with 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:May 11, 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:May 11, 2026
Up to $75,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case