Couple pleads guilty to $34 million fraud scheme

Sergey Lebedenko, 54, claimed he was too frail to walk, arriving at court in a wheelchair. However, a shocking video showed him walking, driving, and even taking selfies with his dog. This footage was presented by Judge Amy Baggio during his sentencing for a massive theft. Lebedenko and his wife, Galina, 49, pleaded guilty to stealing $34 million from publisher Win McCormack. The couple worked for McCormack for seven years, misleading him while enjoying a lavish lifestyle funded by unauthorized charges on his credit card. Their luxury expenses included designer items, million-dollar homes, and partial ownership of a private jet. Judge Baggio described their actions as driven by "sheer, unadulterated and perverse greed." McCormack, who owns The New Republic and lives in both Portland and New York City, had private investigators follow Lebedenko, revealing his deceitful claims about his health. Despite Lebedenko’s claims of severe health issues, including Type 2 diabetes and constant pain, the judge was unconvinced. She imposed six additional months on top of the recommended four years and three months, bringing each of their total sentences to four years and nine months. The couple was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing, with U.S. marshals leading them away in handcuffs.