Meeting of Veterans — Anatoly Petukhov Meets Tom Parker
In October 2023, former Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs General Anatoly Petukhov met with his old colleague, renowned FBI agent Tom Parker, who led high-profile investigations into international mafia organizations. Parker played a key role in indicting and convicting the leadership of Mafia families operating in Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas City, and Milwaukee for their hidden interests in some of the largest Las Vegas casinos. His investigation became the basis for the movie Casino, directed by Oscar-winner Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone.
In the 1990s, at an international conference in Moscow on combating organized crime, I presented a report on Russian criminal activities, including kidnappings for ransom, corporate raids on foreign enterprises, and fraudulent schemes targeting foreign investments. At the time, numerous joint ventures with American and European investors were emerging in Russia. During these conferences, I met key figures from U.S. law enforcement, including Tom Parker, who specialized in major cases against international mafia groups.
After retiring, Parker continued working to protect American citizens and businesses in Russia. One day, he called me regarding a 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 kidnappers demanded a $1 million ransom and threatened to cut off his fingers, then his hands, and ultimately kill him if the money was not paid. With organized crime rampant in Russia at the time, such cases were common, often making headlines. The victim had been missing for several days, and his parents had sought help from various Russian agencies, only to be told there was no proof of a crime.
Through my 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 bring it to me in Moscow. A few days later, Parker delivered the document.
When I presented the case to my superiors, my request to launch an official investigation was repeatedly denied. Their reasoning was that Russian citizens were kidnapped and murdered daily, and the priority was protecting them—not an American and his money. However, I argued that every human life is valuable, regardless of nationality, and convinced the Ministry of Internal Affairs to authorize a special operation.
Given the criminal group’s corrupt ties with local law enforcement, any leak could have led to the hostage’s immediate execution. To mitigate this risk, I organized a covert operation using federal agents, operatives from the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GUOP), and a special response team. Modeled after the FBI, GUOP operated independently from local authorities, ensuring operational security. Personally overseeing the mission, I traveled to the region, putting my life—and my colleagues’ lives—on the line.
After an intensive investigation, we located the hostage and identified those responsible. The rescue mission was a success: The victim was freed, and the kidnappers were brought to justice.
Throughout my career, I conducted more than ten similar operations to rescue American citizens and safeguard U.S. companies in Russia, utilizing witness protection programs when necessary.
During my October 2023 meeting with Tom Parker, we reminisced about our past collaborations, including my interactions with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, lectures at the LAPD Academy, and professional and personal trips. Parker fondly recalled his visits to Moscow, particularly the historic town of Kolomna, where he toured its renowned monasteries.