Law enforcement officials, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local police, conducted a search at Trump Tower III in Sunny Isles Beach on Thursday. The luxury high-rise complex, known for its association with former President Donald Trump, attracted attention due to its licensing agreement that bears the Trump name.
The specific target of the search was unit 4102 at 15811 Collins Ave, owned by a shell company called MIC-USA LLC. State corporation records indicate that this company is controlled by two Russian businessmen, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Agunda Konstantinovna Makeeva, according to the Miami Herald.
The FBI’s Miami field office spokesperson stated on Friday that they were engaged in court-authorized law enforcement activity in the vicinity of the location but provided no further details regarding the nature of the operation. Efforts to reach Patsulya and Makeeva for comment were unsuccessful. Roza Pereira, Patsulya’s wife and an individual listed on the corporate paperwork for MIC-USA, confirmed awareness of the FBI raid but declined to provide further information, citing advice from her husband’s lawyer.
Sunny Isles Beach, often referred to as “Little Moscow” due to its sizable population of Russian expatriates, has experienced concerns within the community following the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent U.S. government sanctions on wealthy individuals concealing assets in real estate, including South Florida. Trump’s association with the property dates back to a pre-presidential licensing deal he signed with the developers to promote sales. The Trump Towers, including the one in Sunny Isles Beach, have historically attracted foreign buyers, particularly from Latin America and Russia.
MIC-USA, controlled by Patsulya and Makeeva, purchased a three-bedroom, three-bath condo residence in Trump Tower III for $1.65 million approximately ten years ago, according to Miami-Dade property records. In 2020, BAC Florida Bank, the financing provider for the purchase, filed a lawsuit against Patsulya and Makeeva, alleging default on their $975,000 mortgage. The details of how this dispute was resolved remain unclear from the available court records. Nevertheless, MIC-USA, under the control of the two Russian businessmen, retained ownership of the 41st-floor unit at Trump Tower III.
