In a rather dramatic twist in South Florida, the Trump Towers at Sunny Isles Beach rolled out the red carpet for a surprise visitor last Thursday – none other than the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Known for its luxury and opulence, the property bears a licensing deal with former president Donald Trump, giving it the right to bear his name.
The news of this unexpected FBI raid was initially reported by a Miami-based news outlet. According to the report, a squad of FBI special agents, backed by local police, made their way to Trump Tower III, located at 15811 Collins Ave. Their target? Unit 4102.
Now, what’s interesting about this unit is that it is owned by MIC-USA LLC, a shell company controlled by two Russian businessmen, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Agunda Konstantinovna Makeeva. This information, as per state corporation records, adds a unique dimension to the story.
When probed about the unexpected activity, a representative for the FBI’s Miami field office confirmed that they were conducting “court-ordered law enforcement activity in the vicinity of that location.” However, he didn’t share any additional details.
This location, Sunny Isles Beach, has earned the moniker “Little Moscow,” thanks to its substantial Russian expat population. In the wake of the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the U.S. government has been actively pursuing sanctions against oligarchs who’ve been stashing their wealth in real estate in areas like South Florida. This has led some residents to express concerns about a potential backlash against their affluent beachfront community.
The residence at the center of the FBI’s attention, a three-bedroom, three-bath unit in Trump Tower III, was reportedly bought by MIC-USA for $1.65 million a decade ago.
In a twist of financial drama, BAC Florida Bank, which financed the purchase, sued Patsulya and Makeeva in 2020 for allegedly defaulting on their $975,000 mortgage. While the dispute was eventually resolved later the same year, court records remain unclear on how it was settled. Regardless, the ownership of the 41st-floor unit at Trump Tower III remained firmly under the control of MIC-USA, the shell company helmed by the two Russian businessmen.
As the story develops, the raid on the Trump-branded property raises several compelling questions about the complex intersection of real estate, political influence, and international relations. Stay tuned for more updates on this fascinating saga.
