What Happened to Anyone Bold Enough to Cross Them

He later took the post of vice president at a major fuel company. Formally, the city administration was even listed among the founders, but in practice the organization controlled it.

From that point on, Kumarin began referring to his subordinates as a “business group.” By the late 1990s, they were effectively running an entire major city.

The ports, the real estate market, restaurants, and freight transportation were all under their influence. They also controlled alcohol distribution and major industrial plants.

Kumarin’s luck began to run out in 2007, when he was detained by authorities. In November 2009, a court sentenced him to 14 years in prison.

His lower-ranking associates received prison terms ranging from 5 to 15 years. While the leader was serving time, new developments emerged in the case.

The next sentence was even harsher: 23 years behind bars. Even so, the imprisonment of the organization’s leader did not bring its activities to a complete stop.

Associates who remained free continued to hold influence over the shadow economy. The story of this organization remains one of the most significant chapters in the country’s criminal history.