Andrey Mogilyanskiy A businessman was arrested on charges of so-called sex tourism. Country: USA

1. Andrey Mogilyansky: A Successful Businessman with a Dark Secret
2. A Shocking Arrest and a Dark Past
3. A Controversial Release and Pending Verdict

Andrey Mogilyansky: A Successful Businessman with a Dark Secret

In April 2009, Andrey Mogilyansky, a businessman with dual citizenship in Russia and the United States, was arrested in Pennsylvania, where he had been living with his family in recent years. Prior to his arrest, Mogilyansky had a stellar reputation and a biography that could have been the basis for a movie. He left Russia in 1989, graduated from Columbia University, and started his own business. Just two years ago, his annual net income was estimated at $5.3 million.

Despite his success abroad, Mogilyansky did not forget his "first homeland"; he regularly visited Russia and became the founder of the International Fund for the Assistance of Terrorism Victims. The Fund's most notable actions included significant financial contributions to those affected by the Beslan tragedy and the seizure of the Dubrovka Theater Center.

A Shocking Arrest and a Dark Past

The 38-year-old prosperous businessman, who sold cars and published the "Russian Yellow Pages" directory, was arrested on charges of so-called "sex tourism." Investigators believed that Mogilyansky organized the transportation of girls from Russia to the United States, where they were forced into prostitution. Mogilyansky admitted his guilt in engaging in illegal sexual activities with three underage orphan girls in St. Petersburg between 2003 and 2004.

From 2002 to 2004, Mogilyansky and Russian citizen Andrey Tarasov established a network in St. Petersburg and Moscow that provided sexual services, involving even orphan girls as prostitutes. Children were either abducted or lured with the promise of making money in Moscow. These underage prostitutes were then advertised on the internet, and the brothel was named "Beranika." There was a high demand for teenagers, especially virgin girls, and many wealthy foreigners specifically traveled to Russia for this "special leisure."

Mogilyansky's accomplices, Andrey Tarasov (a former kindergarten teacher and leader of a children's theater group) and Pavel Mikhaliev (a former priest), have already been brought to trial and sentenced to long prison terms (ranging from 8 to 15 years). However, the investigation against the businessman himself has been prolonged due to his dual citizenship, which means he cannot be extradited to Russia. Nevertheless, the evidence collected by Russian investigators was sufficient to bring Mogilyansky to trial in the United States.

A Controversial Release and Pending Verdict

Later, it was revealed that the court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania allowed Mogilyansky to be released on bail. According to ITAR-TASS, he was released after posting a bail of $100,000 and providing evidence of assets worth over $3 million. With the rights to confiscate these funds, the court deemed that the accused would not flee from justice. The verdict in Mogilyansky's case is expected to be announced in late July 2009.