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A California federal court on Wednesday sentenced Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant who falsely accused President Joe Biden and his son Hunter of accepting bribes from a Ukrainian energy company, to six years in prison. The sentencing follows Smirnov’s guilty plea last month to charges of creating false records and tax evasion involving $675,000 owed to the Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II handed down the 72-month sentence, citing Smirnov’s betrayal of trust and efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. Smirnov, who has been in federal custody since February due to flight risk concerns, was also ordered to pay $675,502 in restitution to the IRS.

Fabricated Allegations Against the Bidens

Prosecutors revealed that in 2020, Smirnov falsely claimed to the FBI that Burisma, a Ukrainian energy firm where Hunter Biden once served as a board member, had paid $5 million to the Bidens. Smirnov provided fake evidence, including a photo he alleged showed the Bidens with Burisma’s CEO, which prosecutors debunked as unrelated.

Smirnov also submitted fraudulent forms alleging that Burisma officials told him in 2015 and 2016 that Hunter Biden had been hired to protect the company through his father. In reality, Smirnov’s limited contacts with Burisma occurred in 2017, long after Joe Biden’s term as vice president had ended.

Sentencing and Appeals

While Smirnov requested a four-year sentence, citing health issues including vision loss from untreated glaucoma, the government argued for six years, emphasizing his betrayal of the United States. Prosecutors described him as a "liar and a tax cheat" whose actions undermined the integrity of the 2020 election.

"In committing his crimes, [Smirnov] betrayed the United States, a country that showed him nothing but generosity," prosecutors said. "He repaid that trust by attempting to interfere in a presidential election."

Judge Wright ultimately sided with the government, stating that a six-year sentence was necessary to deter informants from providing false information to law enforcement.

Legal Representation

Smirnov’s defense team included Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff of Chesnoff & Schonfeld, along with Mark A. Byrne of Byrne and Nixon LLP. The prosecution was handled by Derek Hines, Leo Wise, and Mark Daly from the special counsel’s office.

Broader Context

Smirnov’s case was prosecuted by special counsel David Weiss, who also brought charges against Hunter Biden in a separate case. Hunter Biden received a pardon from his father, President Biden, in December 2024 while awaiting sentencing on gun and tax charges.

This case highlights the risks of misinformation in politically charged environments, with prosecutors underscoring the importance of truthful reporting from confidential informants.