Immigration charges deepen case against Raleigh man accused in murder-for-hire plot

Sunday, February 10, 2019

New details in Teyf criminal investigation.

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The case against Leonid Teyf began as a murder-for-hire investigation. In court documents, federal authorities contend the Russian national and Raleigh resident wanted to murder the son of his housekeeper because Teyf thought he was having an affair with his wife.

But the investigation ballooned to outside the $5 million north Raleigh mansion where the housekeeper, her husband, and son -- all from Russia -- lived with the Teyf family.

Soon the feds were accusing Teyf, 57, of being involved in a $150 million dollar kickback scheme in his native Russia and bringing some of the money to the United States.

Authorities noted that both Leonid and Tatyana Teyf are legal residents of the United States.

They said he started companies here.

In the superseding indictment released Friday, they said he brought another family here from Russia and illegally put them to work in one of his companies.

Both Teyf and his wife, Tatyana, are accused of several immigration-law violations in connection with the alleged scheme.

The new indictment also details additional financial transactions that involve the movement of millions of dollars between bank and investment accounts.

It also lists the purchases of three Mercedes, all valued at well over $100,000, as well as more than $2.5 million in artwork, a $500,000 apartment on Glenwood South and a building at 133 E. Hargett St.

In January, a judge ordered Teyf to remain jailed until trial.

In December, the FBI raided the Teyfs sprawling North Raleigh home.