Exhibit 3 — USA v. Barabash (Dkt. 23.3)

Record facts

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland · No. 1:22-cr-00232-JKB · Doc. 23-3 · 2023-06-12 · Docket on CourtListener

Full text

Exhibit 3 
Case 1:22-cr-00232-JKB     Document 23-3     Filed 06/12/23     Page 1 of 3

LETTER OF ALEXANDER BARABASH 
 
Your Honor: 
 
I was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. My father was determined to move to the United States to 
provide a brighter future for his children. It was a five-year process and finally in the Spring 
of 1979 through his persistence and determination, we were able to leave. My father, 
mother, sister, my father’s parents, and I embarked on a 5-month journey with one suitcase 
per person, barely any money, and no one spoke English.  
 
I took an aptitude test and skipped third grade. With the aid of several amazing 
organizations, I was able to attend private school. Once my parents began working, they 
had to pay for my education, but that initial generosity will never be forgotten. 
  
My parents ingrained in my sister and me, no matter what you become in life always be 
humble and kind. They were not able to offer us any luxuries, however, ours was a home 
filled with love, respect, rules, and responsibilities.  
 
Just like my father, I worked my entire life starting at the age of fifteen. I applied to several 
universities after graduating high school and when the letters arrived in the mail, my 
excitement was short-lived because after I opened each letter, I knew my parents could not 
afford to send me to college.  
 
I began working and saving, saving so that I could give myself the opportunity to expand 
my education. In 1997, I began a remodeling company installing kitchens, trimming 
carpentry, etc. I was determined to learn everything about this trade and the entire business 
of constructing and renovating residential structures. Ten years later in 2007, I applied for 
and received my contractor’s license. I held that license with an unblemished record for 
fifteen years. Over the course of the next ten years, I became a specialist in the renovation 
of historic 100+ year-old homes and served the communities of Guilford, Ruxton, Roland 
Park, Homeland, Hampden, etc.  
 
Twelve-hour days, six days a week, my vision was clear; be the best at what you do, always 
do what you say you are going to do, continue to grow the company, focus on being client-
centric, and most importantly show my parents gratitude for giving me the opportunity and 
have them be proud of my achievement. After years of grueling work, my company, 
iDesignBuild won five major awards between 2021 and 2023 including the coveted Best 
of Houzz two years in a row, an accolade only awarded to 3% of builders in the world.  
 
I worked half of my life to build something to be proud of only to see everything cut down. 
I made a terrible mistake that I sincerely apologize for, a mistake that I take full 
accountability for, a mistake I have been paying dearly for every day for almost two years 
now. 
Case 1:22-cr-00232-JKB     Document 23-3     Filed 06/12/23     Page 2 of 3

 
As a young person temptation and peer pressure were everywhere but I was not 
seduced. I never got in any trouble as a teenager. Did not get a tattoo, never took up 
smoking, stayed away from drugs, Never owned weapons of any kind including guns. 
Never hunted anything. Never engage with any groups of extreme beliefs nor spend time 
with people from the wrong side of the tracks.  
 
I devoted 25+ years to my career, holding one position, at one company. I have 
banked with the same financial institution, M&T Bank, since about 2006. 
 
I am now in an amazing relationship with my fiancé Mariia. The pandemic, then the 
Russia-Ukraine war conflict has prevented me to meet my fiancés’ parents so that I can 
properly ask her father for permission to marry his daughter. For the past fifteen months, 
we have worked tirelessly through a complicated red tape-filled maze resulting in her 
parents’ visas finally being approved, and they will arrive in the United States on June 22, 
2023. 
 
We are ready to start a family and pass down the multitude of amazing 
characteristics that our wonderful parents gave to us.  
 
I lost both of my Great Danes to cancer; one in 2019 and one in 2010. We are now 
raising two other Harlequin Great Danes, who are about to turn one year of age, and they 
are the center of our Universe.  
 
I take full accountability, and I apologize for my actions. I had a normal life before 
the pandemic; committed to my career, went out to dinner, met with my family for lunch 
almost every Sunday, and now my entire world has turned inside out. I was scared, scared 
for my business, scared for the wonderful people that worked for and with me. Never would 
I have been in this situation had this pandemic never occurred, but I stand by my word of 
full accountability.  
 
Now, I am ashamed because so many people are counting on me, and I am letting 
them all down. I am scared to be introduced to a world I know nothing about and people 
that I have never interacted with in my entire life.  
 
Your Honor, I beg for your consideration to look at the person standing before you 
and see a lifetime of reaching for achievement and a determined commitment to doing the 
right things rather than one extremely bad judgment call during a dark period of our 
lifetime.  
  
Sincerely  
  
Alexander Barabash  
Case 1:22-cr-00232-JKB     Document 23-3     Filed 06/12/23     Page 3 of 3

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