two Russian nationals admit to illegally exporting aeronautical technologies controlled in Russia

Two Russian nationals based in Miami-Dade County, Florida, pleaded guilty last week to violating the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) to illegally export Russian-controlled aviation technology. “These defendants smuggled sensitive aircraft technology into Russia following the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and did so in violation of laws designed to protect American national security.”said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

The scam began in May 2022 and lasted until the arrest of Oleg Sergeyevhich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin on May 11, 2023. The two businessmen “conspired among themselves and with several others” in order to obtain “orders for various aircraft parts and components” with “from Russian buyers – mainly commercial airlines”, detailed the Department of Justice, in a press release published on April 4. The defendants would then acquire “parts from American suppliers”, he continues.

To avoid being suspected by the police, the two accused tried “to conceal illegal exports” in “making false statements about the identity of their true customers” while using “straw purchasing companies located abroad”, reports the same press release. Oleg Sergeyevhich Patsulya also pleaded guilty to frame-up to commit international money laundering.

An export worth at least 4,582,288 dollars

MIC P&I LLC, a company run by Mr. Patsulya, received at least $4,582,288 as a result of its involvement in this fraudulent scheme. Russian airlines sent the money via Turkish bank accounts. During his plea, the company director agreed to forfeit this amount, according to the US Department of Justice. “Make no mistake, threats to America’s economic security are threats to our national security”said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “When adversaries steal our technology to strengthen their economies, American industry suffers”he added.

Both men face prison sentences of up to 20 years after pleading guilty to “conspiracy to export items from the United States without a license, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act”. Mr. Patsulya who also pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to commit international money laundering” could see his sentence extended by another 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

According to the Justice Department, the investigation was coordinated by the Disruptive Technology Strike Force and the KleptoCapture Task Force. The first is an inter-institutional strike force responsible for preventing the acquisition of critical technologies by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states. The second is a task force, established after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, dedicated to enforcing sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States imposed .