Skorkin Maxims Anatolyevich

Biography

2025: Sentence - 17 years in prison for illegal cashing of ₽12 billion

The Central District Court of Voronezh sentenced Maxim Skorkin, a well-known restaurateur in the region, to 17 years in prison in a maximum security colony. The court found the 50-year-old businessman guilty of illegally cashing out funds worth more than ₽12 billion and legalizing criminal proceeds. The co-founder of MesTo, Vremya Che and Diablo nightclub also received a fine of ₽1 million. This was reported in the regional prosecutor's office on July 16, 2025.

According to Kommersant, the criminal case on cashing out money and legalizing criminal proceeds has been considered since the beginning of 2021. Maxim Skorkin and other defendants were charged under Articles 172, 174.1 and 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs qualified their actions as part of a criminal community.

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Фото: Oleg Kharseev/Kommersant

There were 26 people in the dock, who cashed out ₽12 billion through one-day firms between 2010 and 2017. The criminal group received a commission fee of ₽338 million for the provision of services for illegal cashing of funds.

Part of the criminal income received was legalized by acquiring and repairing a hotel and bath complex located near Voronezh. This object was used to invest funds received from illegal activities.

The rest of the defendants in the criminal case received sentences from 2 years and 6 months to 14 years in a general and strict regime colony. The court also imposed fines on them in the amount of ₽500 thousand to ₽800 thousand, depending on the degree of participation in criminal activity.

According to the court verdict, movable and immovable property belonging to the convicts was confiscated. Also, funds in the bank accounts of members of the criminal community are subject to confiscation.

Maxim Skorkin is widely known in Voronezh as an entrepreneur in the field of catering and entertainment. He co-founded the popular restaurants MesTo and Vremya Che, as well as the Diablo nightclub, which were popular among residents of the city.^[1]

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