Woman Charged With Smuggling Cash Across The Border

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Liliya Dzyuba, 42, of North York, Ontario, Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bulk cash smuggling. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 25, 2018, Customs and Border Protection officers encountered the defendant at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry coming into the United States from Canada. Dzyuba indicated that she was coming to Buffalo and staying for a few days to go shopping at the Eastern Hills Mall. When asked how much money she was traveling with, the defendant responded “$5,000.00.” Dzyuba was given a Customs Declaration form and checked “no” when asked if she was carrying “currency or monetary instruments over $10,000 U.S. or Foreign equivalent.” The defendant declared a total of $5,000 and signed the form.

However, during subsequent searches, officers discovered that Dzyuba was carrying $37,000.00 in U.S. Currency around her waist and hidden in her pants. She also had a list of names and money wire transfer locations in the Buffalo, NY area.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and bail was set at $5,000 cash. The government requested that Judge McCarthy stay his release order. The release order was stayed and another appearance is scheduled for February 1, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.