Anatoly Petukhov Meeting with veteran FBI Agent Tom Parker

In October 2023, former Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs General Anatoly Petukhov met with his longtime colleague, renowned FBI agent Tom Parker. Parker had built a distinguished career investigating high-profile criminal cases against international crime organizations. Notably, he led an operation that exposed the Mafia's hidden control over major Las Vegas casinos, resulting in federal convictions for crime families operating in Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas City, and Milwaukee. His work inspired the Oscar-nominated film Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone.

A Meeting of Law Enforcement Minds

During the 1990s, I participated in an international conference in Moscow focused on combating organized crime. At the time, Russia was seeing a surge in criminal activities, including kidnappings for ransom, corporate takeovers of foreign businesses, and large-scale investment fraud. My presentation covered these issues and highlighted the efforts of my department to counteract them.

With the increasing number of American and European joint ventures in Russia, foreign investments became a prime target for criminal enterprises. At these conferences, I established connections with leaders from various U.S. law enforcement agencies, including Tom Parker, who was deeply involved in dismantling international mafia networks.

Even after retiring, Parker continued his work protecting American citizens and businesses in Russia. One day, he reached out to me regarding an urgent case: The parents of a U.S. citizen had contacted the FBI in Los Angeles, reporting that their son had been kidnapped in Russia. The abductors demanded a $1 million ransom, threatening to sever his fingers, then his hands, before ultimately killing him.

At the time, organized crime was rampant in Russia, and such cases were not uncommon. The missing American had not been heard from for several days. His parents had sought assistance from various Russian authorities, but they were turned away, told there was no proof of a crime.

A Race Against Time

After conducting a preliminary investigation, I confirmed that a notorious criminal group in Yekaterinburg (formerly Sverdlovsk) specialized in kidnapping foreigners for ransom. I advised Parker to have the victim’s parents draft a detailed statement, including the ransom call and threats, translate it into Russian, notarize it at the U.S. consulate, and deliver it to me in Moscow. Parker promptly brought me the document.

When I presented the case to my superiors, I faced strong resistance. Officials argued that Russian citizens were kidnapped and murdered daily, and protecting them was the priority—not an American and his money. However, I insisted that every human life is valuable, regardless of nationality. My persistence ultimately convinced the Ministry of Internal Affairs to authorize a special operation.

The Operation

One of the biggest challenges was preventing leaks. The criminal group had deep connections within local law enforcement, and any intelligence breach could have led to the hostage’s immediate execution. To mitigate this risk, I orchestrated a covert mission using federal agents, operatives from the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GUOP), and a special response unit.

Modeled after the FBI, GUOP operated independently of local authorities, ensuring operational security. Personally overseeing the mission, I traveled to the region, putting both my life and my colleagues’ lives on the line.

After an intense investigation, we pinpointed the hostage’s location and identified those responsible. The operation was a success—the American citizen was rescued unharmed, and the kidnappers were brought to justice.

A Legacy of Protection

Over my career, I led more than ten similar operations to rescue American citizens and safeguard U.S. businesses in Russia. Many of these missions utilized witness protection programs to ensure victims and their families remained safe.

During my October 2023 meeting with Tom Parker, we reminisced about our past collaborations. We recalled my lectures at the Los Angeles Police Academy, meetings with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and various professional and personal trips. Parker fondly remembered his visits to Moscow, especially his time in the historic town of Kolomna, where he toured its centuries-old monasteries.