WASHINGTON — President Trump swapped Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik in exchange for the release of American teacher Marc Fogel, an administration official confirmed to The Post Wednesday.
Vinnik was arrested back in 2017 in Greece and extradited to France and the US to face charges of fraud and money laundering.
For six years prior to Vinnik’s arrest, he had been in charge of the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange — which funneled more than $9 billion worth of transactions.
President Trump welcomes Marc Fogel back to the United Stated after he was released from Russian custody, on February 11, 2025. Getty Images
In December 2020, Vinnik was convicted by a French court of money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison. In May 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering before a San Francisco federal judge.
Vinnik had not registered BTC-e in the US as a money services business, despite having several customers in America, and the DOJ had said his case showed just how far the department could reach to thwart cybercrime around the world.
Fogel returned to the US Tuesday night after being held captive in Russia for three and a half years on marijuana charges.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday he got a call the previous day that Fogel had been released by Russia and was instructed by Trump to get him back to the US.
“I would say that without President Trump’s election, none of this would’ve happened,” Witkoff said of the exchange, noting that the agreement “came together” in the last few days.
The envoy also said Saudi Arabia was involved in finalizing the swap.
Alexander Vinnik (center) was accused of laundering money through a digital currency exchange that he ran. NurPhoto via Getty Images
The president personally met Fogel at the White House Tuesday night and gave him a tour of the Lincoln Bedroom.
Fogel kissed the ground after disembarking from his plane and stepping on American soil.
“I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. And President Trump is a hero,” the former detainee said late Tuesday night.
Fogel arrives in the United States after being held in Russia for three and a half years. @WhiteHouse/X
Trump has indicated another American is set to be released as soon as Wednesday, without providing their identity.
Several Americans are still detained in Russia, including 72-year-old Stephen Hubbard, who was accused of fighting the Russian army with Ukrainian mercenaries.
