Programmer Dmitry Somov, who signed a pre-trial agreement during the probe into the ChronoPay case linked to bank card schemes involving founder Pavel Vrublevsky, received a three-year prison sentence for fraud, money laundering and theft.
Court records show Somov was cleared of illegal circulation of payment instruments. Prosecutors sought seven years, arguing the actions involved organized wrongdoing and harmed a large number of participants. The defense stressed that Somov signed a pre-trial agreement, provided substantial details about the chain of events, and named several accomplices who were later charged in the same case. The judge weighed these arguments in his favor, highlighting the cooperation and candor displayed during early investigations. The court evaluated the crime’s nature, the intent, and the extent of damages, and concluded that the admissions and forward-looking testimony carried significant mitigating weight. As a result, the court imposed a reduced sentence that still reflected the seriousness of the offenses, yielding a three-year term in a general regime correctional colony. The verdict also noted that Somov would be subject to routine reporting, potential parole restrictions, and compliance with supervision after release, depending on future legal developments.
The programmer was detained in the courtroom and did not accept the decision. He filed an appeal with the Moscow City Court.
In March 2022, the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow arrested ChronoPay founder Pavel Vrublevsky and three others on suspicions of fraud. Investigators described a layered scheme: websites offering rewards for surveys, tips on predicting exchange rates and stock movements, and attractive opportunities for currency trading, with payment promised at sign-up. After users registered, the promised payouts were never delivered, leaving many participants without compensation. Authorities estimate that around 100,000 people were drawn into the operation and faced losses or disappointment. Vrublevsky and his co-defendants faced charges that began with fraud on a particularly large scale and theft by an organized group. Later, prosecutors broadened the case to include money laundering and illegal circulation of means of payment. Throughout the proceedings, none of the defendants admitted guilt, and the inquiry highlighted the network’s reach across multiple online platforms and financial instruments.
The ChronoPay founder’s son remained under scrutiny as authorities pursued him.