▁in ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁was ▁conv icted ▁and ▁sent enced ▁to ▁prison ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁for ▁money ▁la und ering , ▁wire ▁fra ud ▁and ▁ext ort ion . ▁According ▁to ▁United ▁Nations , ▁approximately ▁US $ 2 0 0 ▁million ▁was ▁em be zz led ▁by ▁Laz aren ko ▁during ▁ 1 9 9 6 – 9 7 ▁from ▁the ▁government ▁of ▁Ukraine . ▁ ▁Early ▁years ▁Pav lo ▁Laz aren ko ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁a ▁village ▁of ▁Kar p iv ka ▁( Sh y roke ▁Ra ion ) ▁that ▁is ▁located ▁just ▁outside ▁a ▁former ▁In hu lets ▁city ▁( today ▁part ▁of ▁K ry vy i ▁R ih ) ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁January ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁in ▁pe asant ▁family ▁( g ard ener ). ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁he ▁worked ▁as ▁a ▁driver ▁in ▁the ▁kol k hoz ▁" Z oria ▁Kom un iz ma " ▁( D awn ▁of ▁Commun ism ) ▁in ▁Sh y roke ▁Ra ion . ▁From ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁to ▁June ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁Laz aren ko ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Army ▁on ▁the ▁border ▁with ▁Afghan istan . ▁After ▁that ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 8 ▁he ▁studied ▁at ▁the ▁D n ip rop et rov sk ▁State ▁Agr arian ▁University ▁in ▁Agr onom ic ▁Department . ▁ ▁Career ▁After ▁gradu ating ▁Laz aren ko ▁received ▁a ▁special ty ▁of ▁agr onom ist .