If his office were to bring a money laundering case under New York State law, they would have had to prosecute a physical person. This meant Denis Katsyv would have to be brought to the United States and put on trial in New York. Since the United States and Russia have no extradition treaty, and there was no way Denis Katsyv would willingly surrender to New York authorities, that would be impossible. However, Duncan explained, under federal law there was no need for a physical defendant. Federal prosecutors could simply go to court, file an asset forfeiture case, and try to seize the property
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