Lebedenko Seeks Early Release From Federal Prison
The former chauffeur convicted of stealing $34 million from Win McCormack has filed a third motion to shorten his sentence.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Sergey Lebedenko filed a third motion for early release from federal prison, asking to reduce his 57-month sentence by nine months to 46 months. His two previous requests were denied by a judge.
Why it matters
Lebedenko argues early release would let him make financial amends and re-enter the workforce, while the government has recovered more than $4.5 million from the couple. The case highlights how federal sentencing and early-release requests are weighed against restitution efforts.
Lebedenko is serving a 57-month federal sentence at the low end of the 57-to-71-month guideline range, with a projected release date of July 5, 2028. The court has not yet ruled on his pending motion to reduce the sentence to 46 months.
The players
Sergey Lebedenko
The former chauffeur sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for stealing $34 million from his employer, now seeking early release.
Win McCormack
The Oregon publisher whose trust was exploited through thousands of unauthorized charges on his American Express card.
The details
Lebedenko exploited his trust as chauffeur to Win McCormack, making thousands of unauthorized charges on McCormack's American Express card from 2017 through 2023. The couple used the proceeds to buy 14 properties across Oregon, Washington and California worth more than $8.6 million combined.
Timeline
Unauthorized charges occurred from 2017 through 2023.
Lebedenko's confinement began in March 2025.
In early August 2026, he received a commercial driver's license through a prison program.
Amendment 838 took effect on Nov. 1, 2026.
His projected prison release date is July 5, 2028.
Legal Context
Lebedenko's request turns on Amendment 838, which would have trimmed close to a year from his sentence had it applied retroactively. The motion shows how sentencing reforms can reshape the terms of federal financial-crime cases already in progress.
The case shows how restitution recovery and sentence length affect victims and the public when large sums are stolen through trusted employment. Residents of Oregon may follow how federal courts handle early-release requests in financial crime prosecutions.
The takeaway
Trusted access to finances can be exploited over years, and recovery of stolen funds often lags far behind the original loss. Readers following similar cases can track court filings to understand how sentences and restitution are decided.
What happens next
Lebedenko's projected prison release date is July 5, 2028, and the court's ruling on his third motion is pending.
Further reading
Explore more on Financial Crime cases across Oregon.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Oregon Live.
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