The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided a condo unit owned by two Russian businessmen, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Agunda Konstantinovna Makeeva, at Trump Tower III in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida on Thursday. The FBI was conducting court-ordered law enforcement activity in the vicinity of the unit but provided no further information regarding their investigation.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence was acquired by MIC-USA LLC for $1.65 million a decade ago. Patsulya and Makeeva are known to own the fourth-floor unit within this upscale beachfront property. The area has been dubbed "Little Moscow" by locals due to its proximity to many Russian expatriates who have expressed concerns about potential backlash against their affluent community after Russia's military invaded Ukraine last year.
BAC Florida Bank previously sued Patsulya and Makeeva for defaulting on their $975,000 mortgage back in 2020. However, details surrounding that case remain undisclosed.
During Thursday's raid operation, two FBI agents accompanied local police officers as they ambushed Trump Tower III to search the condo unit belonging to the pair of Russian businessmen. No comments or statements have been made available from either Patsulya or Makeeva regarding this incident.
On Friday, an official statement from the Miami field office confirmed that it was indeed involved with conducting law enforcement activities related to this location: "The FBI is currently performing authorized legal actions inside Trump Tower III," said Sarah Revell-Reynolds spokesperson for the bureau’s Miami Field Office.
As investigations continue into any possible connection between these events and larger geopolitical issues involving Russia's recent actions against Ukraine or other international matters concerning national security interests of the United States government officials urge patience while all necessary steps are taken towards uncovering any pertinent information relevant for public safety or disclosure.