During an October 3 episode of Illicit Edge’s “Designated” podcast, Weber described Gambaryan’s situation at Kuje prison as far from ideal, as he is held alongside “the worst of the worst” terrorists.
Richard Weber, former Chief of Investigations at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has highlighted the grave conditions faced by Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive currently detained in Nigeria.
During an October 3 episode of Illicit Edge’s “Designated” podcast, Weber described Gambaryan’s situation at Kuje prison as far from ideal, as he is held alongside “the worst of the worst” terrorists.
“It’s a prison that holds really bad people, including terrorists, and here we have a former law enforcement official and dedicated public servant who is working at a crypto company as a mid-level employee who is trying to resolve a compliance issue – who then gets arrested and thrown into the same facility,” Weber explained.
He urged the U.S. government to ensure Gambaryan's release so he can reunite with his wife Yuki and their two young children in California.
“Tigran is a hostage. He did nothing wrong. He is sitting in a prison for a crime he did not commit,” Weber stated. “He’s been in prison for over 200 days – almost eight months – and no one knows what he really did wrong. I don’t even think the Nigerian government knows what he did wrong, and yet they are holding him there.”
Gambaryan was detained in late February 2024 during a trip to Nigeria for discussions about digital asset policy, despite assurances of safe passage.
His imprisonment on charges of tax evasion and money laundering has led many in the crypto community to question the validity of his arrest.
U.S. lawmaker French Hill (R-AR) referred to Gambaryan as a “pawn in a Nigerian political fight.”
Since his arrest, Gambaryan’s health has deteriorated significantly, with reports of him suffering from both malaria and double pneumonia. Footage from a court hearing in early September showed Gambaryan struggling to walk, exacerbated by complications from a herniated disc.
“I’m not okay,” Gambaryan cried in the video. “Why couldn’t I use a goddamn wheelchair? This is a show. I’m innocent—why are you doing this to me?”
Weber’s remarks follow a previous episode of “Designated,” where Yuki Gambaryan advocated for her husband's release, stating, “What Tigran is going through every day is a complete disregard for justice and humanity and it should not be tolerated. …It is getting harder and harder to stay hopeful.”
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