NYT20020731.0375|NN 2002-07-31|NN 23:52|NN A4928|NN &|CC Cx1|NN f|SYM ;|: taf-z|JJ u|NN s|VBZ BC-FIG-OLY-ARREST-1|NN STLD-|NNP 07|CD -|: 31|CD 1937|CD BC-FIG-OLY-ARREST-1|NN STLD-WRITETHRU-NYT|NNP OLYMPIC|NNP JUDGING|NNP SCANDAL|NNP DEEPENS|NNP WITH|IN ARREST|NNP OF|IN RUSSIAN|NNP CRIME|NN FIGURE|NNP (|( EDS|NNP :|: SUBS|NNP for|IN rewriting|VBG throughout|IN .|. )|) By|IN RICHARD|NNP SANDOMIR|NNP c.2002|NN New|NNP York|NNP Times|NNP News|NNP Service|NNP A|DT Russian|JJ accused|VBN of|IN being|VBG in|IN organized|VBN crime|NN was|VBD arrested|VBN in|IN Italy|NNP on|IN Wednesday|NNP on|IN an|DT American|JJ complaint|NN that|IN he|PRP conspired|VBD to|TO fix|VB the|DT pairs|NNS figure|VBP skating|VBG and|CC ice|NN dancing|NN competitions|NNS at|IN the|DT recent|JJ Salt|NNP Lake|NNP Winter|NNP Olympics|NNPS ,|, which|WDT were|VBD dominated|VBN by|IN the|DT sport|NN 's|POS judging|VBG scandals|NNS .|. 
The|DT Russian|JJ ,|, Alimzhan|NNP Tokhtakhounov|NNP ,|, who|WP was|VBD arrested|VBN by|IN the|DT Italian|JJ authorities|NNS at|IN his|PRP$ resort|NN home|NN in|IN Forte|NNP dei|FW Marmi|NNP ,|, appeared|VBD to|TO have|VB a|DT singular|NN motivation|NN for|IN rigging|VBG the|DT competitions|NNS :|: getting|VBG a|DT visa|NN to|TO return|VB to|TO France|NNP ,|, where|WRB he|PRP once|RB lived|VBD .|. 
The|DT federal|JJ prosecutor|NN in|IN Manhattan|NNP alleged|VBD in|IN a|DT criminal|JJ complaint|NN that|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP had|VBD conceived|VBN and|CC directed|VBD a|DT scheme|NN with|IN a|DT second|JJ man|NN alleged|VBN to|TO be|VB in|IN the|DT Russian|JJ mob|NN and|CC a|DT member|NN of|IN the|DT Russian|NNP Skating|NNP Federation|NNP to|TO secure|VB a|DT gold|NN medal|NN for|IN the|DT top|JJ Russian|JJ pairs|NNS skaters|NNS and|CC for|IN the|DT top|JJ French|JJ ice|NN dancers|NNS ,|, one|CD of|IN whom|WP is|VBZ a|DT Russian|JJ .|. 
The|DT Russian|JJ team|NN of|IN Yelena|NNP Berezhnaya|NNP and|CC Anton|NNP Sikharulidze|NNP narrowly|RB won|VBD the|DT gold|NN medal|NN over|IN the|DT Canadians|NNPS Jamie|NNP Sale|NNP and|CC David|NNP Pelletier|NNP ,|, who|WP were|VBD later|RB awarded|VBN a|DT duplicate|JJ gold|NN medal|NN because|IN of|IN the|DT ensuing|VBG judging|VBG controversy|NN .|. 
Sale|NN and|CC Pelletier|NNP declined|VBD to|TO comment|VB on|IN Wednesday|NNP .|. 
The|DT French|JJ ice|NN dancers|NNS ,|, Marina|NNP Anissina|NNP and|CC Gwendal|NNP Peizerat|NNP ,|, later|RB won|VBD the|DT gold|NN over|IN a|DT Russian|JJ team|NN .|. 
The|DT complaint|NN casts|VBZ the|DT Salt|NNP Lake|NNP City|NNP figure|NN skating|NN scandal|NN in|IN a|DT more|RBR serious|JJ light|NN than|IN the|DT cronyism|NN and|CC vote|NN -|- swapping|NN that|WDT have|VBP tainted|VBN the|DT increasingly|RB troubled|JJ sport|NN .|. 
Over|IN the|DT past|JJ four|CD years|NNS ,|, four|CD judges|NNS have|VBP been|VBN suspended|VBN ,|, including|VBG a|DT Ukrainian|JJ who|WP was|VBD taped|VBN by|IN a|DT Canadian|JJ judge|NN detailing|VBG the|DT order|NN of|IN finish|NN for|IN the|DT ice|NN dancers|NNS before|IN the|DT 1998|CD Winter|NNP Games|NNPS in|IN Nagano|NNP ,|, Japan|NNP .|. 
If|IN convicted|VBN of|IN the|DT charges|NNS against|IN him|PRP -|- -|- conspiracy|NN to|TO commit|VB wire|NN fraud|NN and|CC conspiracy|NN to|TO commit|VB bribery|NN ,|, both|DT felonies|NNS _|NN Tokhtakhounov|NNP faces|VBZ maximum|NN prison|NN time|NN of|IN 10|CD years|NNS and|CC a|DT fine|NN of|IN $500,000|NN or|CC more|JJR .|. 
The|DT United|NNP States|NNPS is|VBZ seeking|VBG his|PRP$ extradition|NN from|IN Italy|NNP .|. 
The|DT Italian|JJ authorities|NNS provided|VBD the|DT FBI|NNP with|IN information|NN from|IN wiretaps|NNS of|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP 's|POS home|NN telephone|NN ,|, part|NN of|IN an|DT investigation|NN into|IN his|PRP$ criminal|JJ activities|NNS .|. 
The|DT FBI|NNP said|VBD explicit|JJ conversations|NNS about|IN the|DT scheme|NN had|VBD been|VBN recorded|VBN between|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP and|CC his|PRP$ conspirators|NNS ,|, and|CC between|IN him|PRP and|CC Anissina|NNP ,|, who|WP was|VBD born|VBN in|IN Russia|NNP and|CC skated|JJ for|IN France|NNP ,|, and|CC her|PRP$ mother|NN .|. 
The|DT FBI|NNP cited|VBD a|DT vivid|JJ conversation|NN with|IN Anissina|NNP 's|POS mother|NN in|IN which|WDT Tokhtakhounov|NNP assured|VBD her|PRP that|IN even|RB if|IN her|PRP$ daughter|NN "|'' falls|VBZ ,|, we|PRP will|MD make|VB sure|JJ she|PRP is|VBZ No.|NN 1|CD .|. "|'' 
After|IN the|DT Winter|NNP Olympics|NNPS ,|, a|DT French|JJ judge|NN ,|, Marie|NNP -|- Reine|NNP Le|NNP Gougne|NNP ,|, was|VBD suspended|VBN by|IN the|DT International|NNP Skating|NNP Union|NNP for|IN not|RB reporting|VBG pressure|NN she|PRP said|VBD was|VBD put|VBN on|IN her|PRP by|IN Didier|NNP Gailhaguet|NNP ,|, president|NN of|IN the|DT French|NNP Skating|NNP Federation|NNP ,|, to|TO vote|VB for|IN the|DT Russian|JJ pairs|NNS team|NN .|. 
She|PRP later|RB recanted|VBD and|CC said|VBN that|IN Canadian|JJ officials|NNS had|VBD pressured|JJ her|PRP .|. 
The|DT ISU|NNP later|RB suspended|VBD Le|NNP Gougne|NNP and|CC Gailhaguet|NNP for|IN three|CD years|NNS .|. 
The|DT federal|JJ complaint|NN did|VBD not|RB describe|VB the|DT possibility|NN of|IN a|DT wider|JJR conspiracy|NN or|CC any|DT contact|NN between|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP ,|, or|CC his|PRP$ unnamed|JJ co-conspirators|JJ ,|, with|IN Le|NNP Gougne|NNP .|. 
"|'' We|PRP have|VBP alleged|VBN no|DT connection|NN between|IN this|DT man|NN with|IN any|DT officials|NNS other|JJ than|IN with|IN Russian|JJ federation|NN officials|NNS ,|, "|'' James|NNP B.|NN Comey|NNP ,|, the|DT U.S.|NNP attorney|NN for|IN the|DT Southern|NNP District|NNP of|IN New|NNP York|NNP ,|, said|VBD at|IN a|DT news|NN conference|NN .|. 
He|PRP said|VBD that|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP "|'' reached|VBN out|IN to|TO a|DT co-conspirator|JJ ,|, somebody|NN connected|VBN to|TO the|DT Russian|NNP Skating|NNP Federation|NNP ,|, who|WP did|VBD the|DT legwork|NN for|IN him|PRP .|. "|'' 
Maxwell|NNP Miller|NNP ,|, Le|NNP Gougne|NNP 's|POS lawyer|NN in|IN Salt|NNP Lake|NNP City|NNP ,|, said|VBD no|DT evidence|NN of|IN organized|VBN crime|NN influence|NN came|VBD up|RB in|IN her|PRP$ suspension|NN hearings|NNS before|IN the|DT ISU|NNP "|'' I|PRP think|VBP this|DT situation|NN vindicates|NNS the|DT argument|NN that|IN we|PRP 've|VBP made|VBN all|DT along|IN ,|, "|'' he|PRP said|VBD .|. 
"|'' She|PRP 's|VBZ a|DT scapegoat|NN and|CC a|DT target|NN of|IN a|DT corrupt|JJ system|NN and|CC was|VBD unfairly|RB singled|VBN out|RP .|. "|'' 
Tokhtakhounov|NNP ,|, whose|WP$ age|NN was|VBD given|VBN by|IN Comey|NNP as|IN 53|CD or|CC 62|CD ,|, is|VBZ a|DT "|'' major|JJ figure|NN in|IN international|JJ Eurasian|NNP organized|VBD crime|NN ,|, "|'' Comey|NNP said|VBD .|. 
Born|VBN in|IN Tashkent|NNP ,|, Uzbekistan|NNP ,|, and|CC now|RB a|DT Russian|JJ citizen|NN ,|, he|PRP is|VBZ known|VBN as|IN Taivanchik|NNP ,|, or|CC Little|NNP Taiwanese|JJ ,|, for|IN his|PRP$ Central|NNP Asian|JJ ethnic|JJ background|NN .|. 
Since|IN the|DT collapse|NN of|IN the|DT Soviet|NNP Union|NNP ,|, he|PRP has|VBZ been|VBN implicated|VBN in|IN arms|NNS trading|NN and|CC Russian|JJ art|NN smuggling|NN ,|, and|CC in|IN the|DT Russian|JJ news|NN media|NNS he|PRP was|VBD accused|VBN of|IN complicity|NN in|IN a|DT plot|NN to|TO extort|VB $10|NN million|CD from|IN the|DT head|NN of|IN a|DT Russian|JJ sports|NNS foundation|NN .|. 
He|PRP appears|VBZ to|TO have|VB moved|VBN to|TO France|NNP in|IN 1989|CD ,|, according|VBG to|TO news|NN media|NNS reports|NNS ,|, and|CC is|VBZ reported|VBN to|TO have|VB Israeli|JJ citizenship|NN also|RB .|. 
Comey|NNP said|VBD Tokhtakhounov|NNP had|VBD three|CD residences|NNS in|IN Italy|NNP :|: Forte|NNP dei|FW Marmi|NNP ,|, Rome|NNP and|CC Milan|NNP .|. 
The|DT complaint|NN against|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP 's|POS traces|VBZ his|PRP$ contact|NN with|IN figure|NN skating|VBG to|TO 2000|CD ,|, when|WRB he|PRP proposed|VBD to|TO Gailhaguet|NNP the|DT creation|NN of|IN a|DT professional|JJ hockey|NN team|NN in|IN Paris|NNP that|WDT would|MD provide|VB revenue|NN for|IN the|DT French|NNP Skating|NNP Federation|NNP .|. 
(|( Gailhaguet|NNP and|CC Anissina|NNP are|VBP not|RB referred|VBN to|TO by|IN name|NN in|IN an|DT accompanying|VBG FBI|NNP agent|NN 's|POS affidavit|NN ,|, but|CC by|IN their|PRP$ descriptions|NNS their|PRP$ identities|NNS are|VBP obvious|JJ .|. 
)|) 
In|IN return|NN ,|, Gailhaguet|NNP told|VBD the|DT FBI|NNP on|IN Feb|NNP .|. 23|CD as|IN the|DT Olympics|NNPS were|VBD taking|VBG place|NN ,|, Tokhtakhounov|NNP asked|VBD for|IN Gailhaguet|NNP 's|POS help|NN in|IN renewing|VBG his|PRP$ French|JJ visa|NN ,|, which|WDT was|VBD about|IN to|TO expire|VB .|. 
But|CC when|WRB Gailhaguet|NNP sought|VBD guidance|NN from|IN a|DT French|JJ government|NN official|NN ,|, he|PRP was|VBD told|VBN that|IN "|'' Tokhtakhounov|NNP 's|POS money|NN is|VBZ bad|JJ ,|, "|'' the|DT affidavit|NN said|VBD .|. 
The|DT federal|JJ complaint|NN offers|VBZ many|JJ details|NNS of|IN the|DT alleged|VBN conspiracy|NN ,|, including|VBG excerpts|NNS from|IN a|DT transcript|NN of|IN the|DT Italian|JJ wiretaps|NNS .|. 
On|IN Feb|NNP .|. 5|CD ,|, the|DT Italian|JJ wiretaps|NNS recorded|VBD Tokhtakhounov|NNP 's|POS request|NN to|TO someone|NN identified|VBN as|IN another|DT Russian|JJ mobster|NN to|TO get|VB the|DT number|NN of|IN a|DT Russian|NNP Skating|NNP Federation|NNP official|NN .|. 
The|DT second|JJ mobster|NN told|VBD Tokhtakhounov|NNP that|IN the|DT federation|NN official|NN "|'' is|VBZ close|JJ to|TO us|PRP -|- -|- he|PRP is|VBZ a|DT good|JJ guy|NN ,|, he|PRP will|MD do|VB it|PRP .|. "|'' 
Tokhtakhounov|NNP 's|POS action|NN apparently|RB came|VBD soon|RB after|IN he|PRP said|VBD he|PRP received|VBD a|DT phone|NN call|NN from|IN the|DT mother|NN of|IN the|DT female|JJ ice|NN dancer|NN ,|, presumably|RB Anissina|NNP .|. 
A|DT week|NN later|RB ,|, after|IN Berezhnaya|NNP and|CC Sikharulidze|NNP 's|POS pairs|NNS victory|NN ,|, the|DT mobsters|NNS spoke|VBD again|RB .|. 
The|DT second|JJ mobster|NN expressed|VBD satisfaction|NN with|IN the|DT outcome|NN of|IN the|DT competition|NN and|CC suggested|VBD that|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP could|MD call|VB the|DT ice|NN dancer|NN 's|POS "|'' mother|NN or|CC the|DT father|NN and|CC tell|VB them|PRP everything|NN will|MD be|VB OK|JJ "|'' 
He|PRP appears|VBZ to|TO be|VB referring|VBG to|TO Anissina|NNP .|. 
The|DT second|JJ mobster|NN added|VBD ,|, "|'' Our|PRP$ Sikharulidze|NNP fell|VBD ,|, the|DT Canadians|NNPS were|VBD 10|CD times|NNS better|JJR ,|, and|CC in|IN spite|NN of|IN that|IN the|DT French|JJ with|IN their|PRP$ vote|NN gave|VBD us|PRP first|JJ place|NN .|. "|'' 
He|PRP added|VBD :|: "|'' Everything|NN is|VBZ going|VBG the|DT way|NN you|PRP need|VBP it|PRP .|. "|'' 
They|PRP also|RB discussed|VBD the|DT coming|VBG judging|VBG in|IN ice|NN dancing|NN ,|, in|IN which|WDT the|DT French|JJ and|CC the|DT Italian|JJ teams|NNS were|VBD the|DT favorites|NNS .|. 
The|DT second|JJ mobster|NN said|VBD the|DT French|JJ pair|NN had|VBD "|'' only|RB three|CD judges|NNS ,|, "|'' and|CC of|IN the|DT two|CD judges|NNS they|PRP needed|VBD to|TO win|VB the|DT gold|NN medal|NN "|'' one|CD is|VBZ ours|PRP ,|, and|CC the|DT other|JJ our|PRP$ friends|NNS will|MD give|VB them|PRP .|. "|'' 
Their|PRP$ concern|NN for|IN lining|VBG up|RB more|JJR votes|NNS than|IN they|PRP thought|VBD the|DT Italian|JJ ice|NN dancers|NNS had|VBD may|MD stem|VB from|IN the|DT Italian|JJ team|NN 's|POS defeat|NN of|IN Anissina|NNP and|CC Peizerat|NNP in|IN the|DT 2001|CD world|NN championships|NNS .|. 
But|CC they|PRP seemed|VBD pleased|JJ that|IN the|DT Russian|JJ pair|NN 's|POS victory|NN was|VBD achieved|VBN with|IN the|DT French|JJ judge|NN 's|POS vote|NN .|. 
"|'' The|DT French|NNPS have|VBP nothing|NN but|CC the|DT ice|NN dancing|NN ,|, "|'' the|DT second|JJ mobster|NN said|VBD .|. 
Again|RB ,|, Tokhtakhounov|NNP voiced|VBD his|PRP$ need|VBP to|TO have|VB his|PRP$ French|JJ visa|NN extended|VBD ,|, and|CC he|PRP said|VBD Anissina|NNP had|VBD tried|VBN to|TO help|VB him|PRP but|CC Gailhaguet|NNP had|VBD thwarted|VBN her|PRP .|. 
Also|RB on|IN Feb|NNP .|. 12|CD ,|, a|DT week|NN before|IN the|DT ice|NN dancing|NN finals|NNS ,|, Tokhtakhounov|NNP told|VBD Anissina|NNP 's|POS mother|NN in|IN a|DT telephone|NN call|NN that|IN the|DT Russian|JJ federation|NN official|NN "|'' had|VBD called|VBN me|PRP from|IN America|NNP "|'' to|TO assure|VB that|IN "|'' we|PRP are|VBP going|VBG to|TO make|VB "|'' Anissina|NNP "|'' an|DT Olympic|NNP champion|NN .|. "|'' 
He|PRP told|VBD her|PRP that|IN the|DT Russian|JJ skating|VBG federation|NN official|NN "|'' will|MD help|VB -|- -|- he|PRP has|VBZ two|CD or|CC three|CD judges|NNS .|. "|'' 
On|IN or|CC about|IN March|NNP 7|CD ,|, in|IN a|DT conversation|NN between|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP and|CC Anissina|NNP ,|, she|PRP said|VBD she|PRP would|MD have|VB won|VBN the|DT event|NN without|IN his|PRP$ assistance|NN because|IN the|DT Russian|JJ judge|NN did|VBD not|RB vote|VB for|IN her|PRP$ and|CC her|PRP$ partner|NN .|. 
She|PRP also|RB apologized|VBD for|IN not|RB calling|VBG to|TO thank|VB him|PRP earlier|RBR ,|, but|CC that|IN Gailhaguet|NNP had|VBD forbidden|VBN her|PRP .|. 
She|PRP told|VBD Tokhtakhounov|NNP that|IN she|PRP knew|VBD the|DT FBI|NNP had|VBD interviewed|VBN Gailhaguet|NNP because|IN of|IN information|NN that|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP "|'' was|VBD involved|VBN with|IN the|DT results|NNS "|'' of|IN the|DT ice|NN dancing|NN .|. 
He|PRP assured|VBD her|PRP that|IN it|PRP was|VBD nonsense|NN ,|, but|CC that|IN Gailhaguet|NNP "|'' knows|VBZ my|PRP$ name|NN very|RB well|RB -|- -|- he|PRP tried|VBD to|TO help|VB me|PRP ,|, and|CC later|RB he|PRP made|VBD stuff|NN up|IN to|TO scare|VB you|PRP so|IN you|PRP would|MD not|RB connect|VB me|PRP to|TO him|PRP even|RB more|JJR .|. "|'' 
The|DT conversations|NNS seem|VBP to|TO indicate|VB a|DT familiarity|NN between|IN Tokhtakhounov|NNP and|CC Anissina|NNP .|. 
Tass|NNP ,|, the|DT official|NN Russian|JJ news|NN agency|NN ,|, reported|VBD that|IN Anissina|NNP attended|VBD a|DT ceremony|NN in|IN 1999|CD at|IN a|DT Paris|NNP hotel|NN honoring|VBG Tokhtakhounov|NNP for|IN his|PRP$ philanthropy|NN .|. 
That|DT Russian|JJ organized|VBN crime|NN may|MD have|VB infiltrated|VBN international|JJ sport|NN at|IN the|DT Olympics|NNPS stunned|VBD Phyllis|NNP Howard|NNP ,|, president|NN of|IN the|DT U.S.|NNP Figure|NNP Skating|NNP Association|NNP .|. 
"|'' This|DT is|VBZ a|DT criminal|JJ act|NN and|CC it|PRP certainly|RB puts|VBZ things|NNS in|IN a|DT different|JJ league|NN ,|, "|'' Howard|NNP said|VBD .|. 
Lloyd|NNP Ward|NNP ,|, chief|JJ executive|JJ officer|NN of|IN the|DT U.S.|NNP Olympic|NNP Committee|NNP ,|, said|VBD in|IN a|DT statement|NN ,|, "|'' Competitors|NNS from|IN all|DT nations|NNS must|MD be|VB assured|VBN that|IN they|PRP compete|VBP on|IN a|DT level|NN playing|VBG field|NN .|. "|'' 
NYT-07|NN -|- 31|CD -|- 02|CD 2352|CD EDT|NNP 