El Dorado County (July 22, 2024) – In a high-profile case, Anton Andreyevich Iagounov, 38, of South Lake Tahoe, has been found guilty on four counts of impersonating a federal officer. The verdict was delivered on July 11 after a three-day trial in Sacramento federal court, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.
Elaborate Schemes and Bomb Threats
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Mr. Iagounov’s conviction follows a series of intricate and alarming incidents. According to a criminal complaint filed in July 2022 by an FBI agent, Iagounov began his activities in late 2021. He allegedly called in numerous bomb threats to various locations across the United States throughout 2021 and 2022. To ensure his threats were taken seriously, he often followed up by impersonating a federal intelligence officer.
The FBI reported that Iagounov targeted several high-profile locations, including the office of Wyoming state Sen. Cynthia Lummis, the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas, the Albany Fire Department in New York, the Torrance Police Department in California, and the City of Temple, Texas. One of the most alarming threats involved a call to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office at Albany International Airport, claiming a nuclear device would be set off. Another threat was made to the Boston Fire Department.
Search and Seizure
A search of Iagounov’s home in South Lake Tahoe uncovered several electronic devices, including a cellphone and two computers. The FBI stated that these devices provided evidence linking him to the bomb threats and impersonation activities.
False Identity and Fake Documents
Iagounov also posed as an agent of NASA’s Office of Inspector General. He created fake investigative documents to obtain sensitive government information, according to Michael Graham, NASA’s acting assistant inspector general for investigations. Federal prosecutors revealed that in July 2022, Iagounov sent several fake search warrants, including one to the U.S. Capitol Police with a forged NASA special agent’s signature. The Capitol Police quickly identified the document as fake.
Further Deceptions
On July 11, Iagounov allegedly sent another fake warrant to the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, and a week later, he sent a similar document to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia. On July 24, he faxed a letter to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, claiming it was an emergency requiring a judge’s signature. The letter included an anonymous email address that belonged to Iagounov.
Sentencing Awaited
Mr. Iagounov is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel Calabretta on October 17. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
