Newly obtained U.S. discovery documents claim Prime Minister Gaston Browne personally negotiated a payoff in the private sale of the seized $120 million Russian superyacht to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, allegedly $60 million below fair market value.
A recent court filing in Miami alleges that Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne personally negotiated a US$6 million kickback in connection with the sale of the seized Russian superyacht Alfa Nero. Evidence obtained in U.S. discovery proceedings indicates the vessel was sold roughly $60 million below fair market value as part of a private transaction. The claim has reopened scrutiny of one of the most controversial superyacht seizures since Western sanctions tightened on Russian oligarchs in 2022.
The investigative outlet OffshoreAlert, led by journalist David Marchant, has tracked the matter for more than three years and obtained the court filings.
Background: The Alfa Nero Saga
It has been more than three years since former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was announced as the winning bidder of the $120 million superyacht Alfa Nero in an auction held by the Antiguan government. The 81.3 metre vessel, built by Oceanco, nevertheless remained stuck on the Caribbean island for an extended period, caught in a complex legal battle.
Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhova, daughter of sanctioned Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev, fought relentlessly to challenge Antigua’s right to auction the yacht, which authorities had seized in 2022. Claiming to be the rightful owner of Alfa Nero, she filed an appeal challenging the legality of the auction process.
Her appeal argued that the Port Authority (Amendment) Act allowed the government to take hold of her property, the Alfa Nero, without compensation, and that the Act only permitted the Port Manager to take possession of the vessel without conferring any title. Her attorney, Dr. David Dorsett, also argued that the Port Manager did not hold an Auctioneer’s License, and that the superyacht was not entitled to be registered under the Antigua and Barbuda Merchant Shipping Act.
The Government’s Counter Appeal
The Antiguan government officially filed a counter appeal as the legal battle deepened, according to a report by the Antigua Observer.
Anthony Astaphan, senior counsel representing the government of Antigua, explained the basis of that filing.
“The counter appeal is in relation to the appeal by Dr. Dorsett’s client, the daughter of the Russian oligarch. The appeal from the refusal of the judge to grant the injunction and our cross appeal was that he should have dismissed it on the ground that she had no proprietary rights or interest, so therefore there was no serious issue to be tried as to whether she has an interest in the boat or not.”
Anthony Astaphan, Senior Counsel, Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Earlier, the court had rejected another appeal filed by Guryeva-Motlokhova for an emergency injunction to halt the auction. The counter appeal that followed formed part of the government’s mounting effort to offload the superyacht, which had been moored in Falmouth Harbour since February 2022. According to estimates, the Antiguan government spent close to $1.5 million of public funds on the maintenance and upkeep of the $120 million vessel during that period. It also offered legal guarantees to the winning bidder over any liabilities that might arise from ongoing litigation.
Schmidt Wins the Auction
Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, won the auction with a bid of $67.7 million, beating two other interested bidders. He was given a seven day deadline to make payment to the Antiguan government. The constant injunctions and appeals filed by Guryeva-Motlokhova, however, forced Schmidt’s lawyers to advise him against transferring any money until the court controversy was resolved.
Where Things Stand in 2026
Three years on, the new court filing in Miami threatens to recast that entire chain of events. The allegation that the prime minister personally negotiated a $6 million kickback raises pointed questions, not only about whether public officials profited from the auction, but about the legitimacy of the sale itself.
Forensic Fraud News will continue to follow this story as the U.S. proceedings advance. Readers can also follow OffshoreAlert for ongoing coverage of the case.
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Reporting in this article draws on coverage by the Antigua Observer and on the work of OffshoreAlert, led by journalist David Marchant.
If you have evidence, documents, or first-hand knowledge related to this report, please contact our investigative team. All submissions are confidential.
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