In early January 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents near Roma, Texas, apprehended Timur Praliev, a Russian mercenary, after he illegally crossed the Rio Grande. Praliev, carrying two passports and $4,000, initially claimed Kazakh citizenship. However, during subsequent questioning, he admitted to being a member of the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company designated as a significant transnational criminal organization by the U.S. Treasury in 2023.
Praliev pleaded guilty to unlawful entry into the U.S. A drone was also discovered in his possession. The presiding judge found him guilty and imposed a prison sentence along with a $10 special assessment. When asked if he had any final words, Praliev simply replied, "Nyet."
The Wagner Group, with an estimated 50,000 personnel deployed in Ukraine, has been actively involved in conflicts across the Middle East, Africa, and Venezuela. Initially formed in 2014, the group gained notoriety during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It has increasingly relied on recruiting prisoners, including military veterans, to bolster its ranks, a practice that has reportedly raised concerns within the Russian Defense Ministry.
