Felix Sater

Sater and Ridloff facilitated Khrapunov Trump SoHo purchases in April 2013 — same period Bayrock contracted Zampolli for Trump SoHo sales

Critical temporal overlap: In 2013, Sater and Ridloff were actively facilitating Khrapunov family investments through SDG, including purchasing 3 Trump SoHo condos for $3.1M via shell companies in April 2013. Simultaneously, the Domus Arbiter case (651970/2014) shows Bayrock sponsor entities contracted with Zampolli/Paramount Realty and Douglas Elliman to sell Trump SoHo units in January 2013, ultimately selling 14 units for $10.86M. The Khrapunov 3 condos at $3.1M were likely part of the 14 units Zampolli sold. If Zampolli was the broker who sold Khrapunov shell companies their Trump SoHo condos, he was the intermediary between Sater's money-laundering operation and the legal sales process.

Sater found liable $52M in BTA Bank money laundering case (Oct 2025); previously convicted in $40M Mafia stock fraud (1998)

Felix Sater (born 1966, Soviet Union) has extensive criminal/civil history. 1991: convicted of first-degree assault for stabbing a commodities broker. 1998: pleaded guilty to involvement in $40M stock fraud scheme orchestrated by Russian Mafia (Genovese and Bonanno crime families); became FBI informant. 2003-2008: managing director at Bayrock Group, senior advisor to Trump. Kazakhstan's BTA Bank sued Sater for allegedly using Trump-branded properties (including Trump SoHo) to launder millions stolen from the bank — specifically, $3M masked as condo down payments. In Oct 2025, Sater found liable and ordered to pay $52M in damages. LittleSis ID: 49948.

Sater found liable for $52M in BTA Bank retrial (Oct 2025) — first trial awarded $32M (June 2024), new trial granted (Jan 2025)

City of Almaty and BTA Bank JSC v. Sater (1:19-cv-02645, SDNY, Judge Koeltl): Civil trial in which Sater was accused of helping Ilyas Khrapunov launder millions through US real estate including Trump SoHo condos. First jury verdict June 2024: $32M damages. Sater won new trial in January 2025. Retrial October 2025: $52M verdict. Case terminated February 27, 2026 per CourtListener. Also: Sater filed for bankruptcy (23-21478, D.N.J., December 2023); City of Almaty filed adversary proceeding (24-01147, D.N.J., March 2024, terminated September 2024). The retrial verdict confirms the factual finding that Sater facilitated Khrapunov money through Trump SoHo — this is no longer just an allegation but a jury-confirmed finding.

Kriss v. Bayrock RICO suit (2010-2018) alleged Sater continued controlling Bayrock after formal departure — suit settled after 8 years

Jody Kriss (former Bayrock director of finance) filed RICO suit in SDNY in May 2010 (10 Civ. 3959) alleging Bayrock was 'substantially and covertly mob-owned and operated' and that Sater's role was hidden. The suit alleged Sater and Arif laundered money, evaded taxes, and bilked Kriss out of millions. Critically, the complaint alleged Sater continued to control Bayrock operations even after his formal departure. The lawsuit was settled in February 2018 after nearly a decade of litigation. The settlement terms were not disclosed. If the Kriss allegations about continued Sater control are accurate, then Sater — not just Arif — may have been the one who authorized the contract with Zampolli for Trump SoHo sales in 2013.

City of Almaty, Kazakhstan v. Sater (SDNY 1:19-cv-02645, Judge John G. Koeltl). Filed March 25, 2019; terminated February 27, 2026. Cause: Diversity-Fraud. First trial June 2024: jury awarded $32M+ to Almaty/BTA Bank. New trial granted January 2025. Retrial September 2025: Sater found liable for $52M. Case alleged Sater helped Ilyas Khrapunov launder portion of ~$6B allegedly stolen from BTA Bank by Mukhtar Ablyazov. Khrapunov purchases of 3 Trump SoHo units (via Jajan-created shell companies) were specifically alleged as part of the laundering scheme. Sater stated he would appeal.

No direct personal connection found between Felix Sater and Paolo Zampolli in any source checked. However, both operated in Trump Org real estate sales during overlapping periods (2004-2006+), and Zampolli was co-defendant with Bayrock (Sater's company) in a Trump SoHo fraud case. This is one degree of separation via Bayrock, not a direct documented link.

Sater had Trump Org 'Senior Advisor' title and office in Trump Tower through 2010-2011, bridging his Bayrock exit and Khrapunov investment period

After leaving Bayrock in 2008/2009 when his criminal past was exposed, Sater received business cards identifying him as 'Senior Advisor to Donald Trump' with @TrumpOrg.com email and an office described as the 'third office down' from Trump in Trump Tower. He maintained this role through at least 2010-2011. Trump Organization's general counsel claimed he was 'never employed by or on the payroll' and no deals resulted. This bridging role is critical: Sater was simultaneously advising Trump AND facilitating Khrapunov investments (2012-2014).