SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Anton Andreyevich Iagounov, 38, of South Lake Tahoe, has been sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for impersonating a federal officer, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta delivered the sentence following Iagounov’s conviction on four counts of impersonation.
Court documents and evidence from a July 2024 trial revealed that Iagounov fabricated and distributed counterfeit investigative documents, signing them under the alias of a fictitious federal agent. These documents were used in attempts to illicitly obtain sensitive information from the Department of Defense.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Beckwith emphasized the severity of the offense, stating, “The defendant impersonated federal officers and tried multiple times to obtain protected information using fake court documents. Many federal agencies including NASA have devoted law enforcement officers, and we will not tolerate federal officers being illegally impersonated.”
Michael Graham, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at NASA, highlighted the potential risks posed by Iagounov’s actions: “Mr. Iagounov’s attempt to undermine public trust in order to obtain sensitive government information posed a significant risk, potentially endangering national security and the integrity of NASA and government operations.”
The investigation revealed that on multiple occasions in July 2022, Iagounov sent fraudulent search warrants to various federal entities, including the U.S. Capitol Police and several U.S. District Courts. These counterfeit documents falsely claimed to be authorized by a NASA Office of Inspector General agent and sought immediate judicial signatures under the guise of “emergency filings.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy N. Schwartz of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division commented on the breach of trust: “The defendant impersonated a federal law enforcement officer and took advantage of the trust that exists between federal agencies.” He advised the public to verify the credentials of individuals claiming to be federal officers and to consult the respective agency for confirmation if doubts arise.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NASA Office of Inspector General, with support from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Conolly and Audrey Hemesath prosecuted the case.
This sentencing underscores the commitment of federal agencies to uphold the integrity of their operations and to hold accountable those who attempt to deceive and compromise national security.
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