Vladimir Sklarov, who operated under multiple identities and claimed ties to the wealthy Astor family, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering in Manhattan federal court. The April grand jury indictment, unsealed Monday, alleges he targeted company founders and billionaires who had wealth locked up in stock and needed quick cash.

Prosecutors say Sklarov sold stock through lies and misrepresentations. One victim lost at least $450 million through a loan deal with Sklarov—a scheme that was the subject of a Wall Street Journal article in July 2025. The scale of the alleged fraud makes this one of the larger cases targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals in recent years.

The case illustrates the dangers wealthy individuals face when seeking loans outside traditional banking channels. Sklarov's claimed Astor family connections apparently helped him gain access to victims with substantial stock holdings but limited cash. Federal authorities are treating this as a significant fraud targeting the financial elite.