Thomas Alber, an enforcement agent of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, stated that the U.S. government must intervene in the case of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee and former U.S. federal agent detained by the Nigerian government since February 26. Alber shared his statement in a July 24 post on X.
"Urgent," said Alber. "Tigran Gambaryan, a hero in crypto crime-fighting, & @binance Executive, is still being held hostage in Nigeria! The US Government must act now to secure his release!"
Gambaryan spent more than 10 years working for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before joining the crypto exchange Binance, according to a resolution filed with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee urging the Nigerian government to release him. The Nigerian government invited Gambaryan to participate in compliance discussions, but the meetings became "hostile," and Gambaryan was detained on February 26. He was later charged with crimes including tax evasion and money laundering and transferred to Kuje Prison, "which is known for its harsh conditions." Nigerian government officials "admitted openly in court that Tigran is being tried in lieu of pursuing legal action against his employer." Gambaryan has tested positive for malaria and has not received adequate medical treatment.
According to CoinDesk, Gambaryan has been experiencing deteriorating health since he was moved to Kuje Prison. In addition to malaria, he has tested positive for pneumonia and now has a herniated disc that has left him "hardly able to walk." He had to be pushed into a Nigerian courtroom in a wheelchair on July 16. Prison officials have not complied with a Nigerian court order to release Gambaryan's medical records.
Nigerian authorities dropped the tax evasion charge against Gambaryan, but he still faces a money laundering charge "as a scapegoat for his employer," CoinDesk reported. The trial for the money laundering charge has been delayed until October. According to his wife Yuki, "I am pleading with the Nigerian authorities to urgently release my husband on humanitarian grounds. This situation is destroying him. I need him safely home with us right now."
In June, members of Congress French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan visited Gambaryan in Nigerian prison, according to a post on X. Hill said he believes Gambaryan is being "wrongfully detained" and has also been "denied access to adequate medical attention." Hill added that he and Gambaryan's U.S. representative Rich McCormick (R-GA), along with 16 other members of Congress, sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken advocating for Gambaryan's release. "Tigran must be immediately granted a humanitarian release, the remaining charges dropped, and he must return home to America where he belongs," Hill said.
Alber investigates gaming-related crimes for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, according to LinkedIn. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at the Public Safety Institute of Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City and previously served in the U.S. Army and as a police officer.
