US prosecutors: Bribes used to hide Russian kickback scheme

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Prosecutors say a businessman accused of a $150 million kickback scheme involving Russian military contracts bribed authorities there to drop an investigation into the fraud.

The arguments helped convince a North Carolina federal judge on Tuesday to order that Leonid Teyf remain incarcerated pending trial on charges he laundered millions of dollars through U.S. banks and plotted to kill a man suspected of having an affair with his wife. Teyf’s lawyers deny the charges and say he should be released because of health issues.

Prosecutors’ arguments filed late last week offer new details on the unusual case.

The new court documents say Russian officials were investigating Teyf over the scheme until he bribed them. Prosecutors say if released, Teyf had multiple homes and job opportunities waiting in Russia.