New York socialite wanted in Russia sentenced to 11 years

Janna Bullock, 49, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison

A New York socialite has been sentenced in absentia to 11 years in a Russian jail for allegedly embezzling more than 11billion rubles ($194million) from the Moscow treasury. 

US citizen Janna Bullock, 49, and her ex-husband Kuznetsov, as well as accused accomplices, allegedly fraudulently moved regional funds to offshore firms to finance an extravagant lifestyle.

However it is not clear if she will serve her sentence because the U.S. and Russia have no extradition agreement, as seen in high-profile cases including that of NSA contractor Edward Snowden who left America in 2013.

If she visits any of her lavish properties abroad, however, she may be extradited or held in agreement with the Russian government – just as France has done in holding her ex-husband Kuznetsov since 2013. 

But already some of her estates have been seized by the Russian government to repay the material damage it claims she has caused.

Her seized properties include hotels Crystal and Pralong in France, an apartment in Paris, two apartments in Switzerland, a villa in Saint-Tropez, and fine art spanning 27 paintings and eight sculptures. 

Her extensive car collection has also been seized and includes 10 Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and Bentley cars, as well as a motor yacht. 

Bullock, 49, and her ex-husband Kuznetsov, as well as claimed accomplices, allegedly fraudulently moved regional funds to offshore firms to finance an extravagant lifestyle

Bullock, 49, and her ex-husband Kuznetsov, as well as claimed accomplices, allegedly fraudulently moved regional funds to offshore firms to finance an extravagant lifestyle

Bullock, left, with daughter Eugenia Bullock, center, has already had properties and cars seized outside the US

Bullock, left, with daughter Eugenia Bullock, center, has already had properties and cars seized outside the US

Bullock grew up in the Belarusian town of Pinsk and went on to St.Petersburg where she taught Russian literature but her life changed when she emigrated to the US in 1990 and settled in the Russian enclave of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn. 

In New York she worked as a paralegal in the office of an immigration lawyer and soon after met Kuznetsov. 

She then started to work in the real estate business and went on to flip mansions and luxurious properties in Manhattan. 

Bullock also worked as an art dealer and sat on the board of the Guggenheim from 2007 to 2010. 

She lived a jet-set lifestyle running her hotels in France that became a hub for Russia’s elite. 

She also launched a real-estate development company in Moscow that conducted substantial business with the Moscow Oblast government, whose finances were teetering at the time Bullock and Kuznetsov left Russia in 2008, according to RadioFreeEurope. 

Janna Bullock and her now ex-husband, Alexey Kuznetsov in 2007, who is now held in France

Janna Bullock and her now ex-husband, Alexey Kuznetsov in 2007, who is now held in France

Janna Bullock and Cory Hay attend the 20th Anniversary Celebration Of Christian Louboutin at Bergdorf Goodman on February 1, 2012

Janna Bullock attends the kick-off dinner for Lighthouse International's POSH Fashion sale at the Oak Room on May 11, 2010

Bullock rose in the New York social sphere flipping properties and working as an art dealer

Bullock has been married four times. A source close to her tells Dailymail.com that Bullock still lives an exquisite life throwing parties at her $30million Hampton’s mansion.

The source says that Bullock hired publicists to legitimize her stance in American society as an art dealer and realtor.

She has been most recently romantically connected to skin care mogul Peter Thomas Roth. She has two adult daughters who also live in the city. 

The source says she now lives travelling between Miami and New York City and hasn’t left the country since the international warrant for her arrest was released. 

Lavish homes: She's famous for flipping pricey real estate such as this Hamptons home

Lavish homes: She’s famous for flipping pricey real estate such as this Hamptons home

She owned his beach home in Heller, South Hampton which is now listed as a full season rental

She owned his beach home in Heller, South Hampton which is now listed as a full season rental

Her French Alpes Hotel Pralong (above) is a hot destination for Russian elite to ski 

Her French Alpes Hotel Pralong (above) is a hot destination for Russian elite to ski 

The Crystal Hotel, above, is her second hotel also in Paris, that was seized by Russian authority

The Crystal Hotel, above, is her second hotel also in Paris, that was seized by Russian authority



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk