A resident of New Jersey of Russian origin pleaded guilty to smuggling US military technology to the Russian Federation

The US Department of Justice announced on Friday that a 43-year-old Russian citizen with US citizenship pleaded guilty to violating US restrictions on the supply of advanced technology to Russia.

Vadim Yermolenko, who lives in the state of New Jersey, played a central role in a scheme involving Russian intelligence services to smuggle military technology of American origin to the Russian military and intelligence services, the report says.

The US Department of Justice said Yermolenko admitted to his role in a transnational procurement and money laundering network that used front companies and hidden financial channels to circumvent export restrictions and supply dual-use electronic components for the needs of Russian law enforcement.

“The defendant admitted that he played a central role in a now-defunct scheme involving Russian intelligence services to smuggle US-origin military technology to Russia, including ammunition for sniper rifles,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned of the security risks that could result from such technology falling into the hands of an adversary. , and you can't put up with him», — Ray stated.

According to court documents, Yermolenko was associated with the Moscow companies Sernia Engineering. and Sertal, which are believed to be working under the direction of Russian intelligence and are engaged in the purchase of advanced technologies and test equipment abroad. accounts in various countries around the world, including the US, to hide the involvement of the Russian government and the final destinations of the goods.

According to the investigation, more than 12 million dollars passed through accounts controlled by Yermolenko, which were used to purchase technologies for military purposes, including components used in radars, surveillance equipment, as well as in research and design work of a military nature.

Some components illegally purchased by Yermolenko and other defendants can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, the Ministry of Justice noted.

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After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States imposed sanctions against the companies “Sernia Engineering”. and Sertal, as well as against several individuals and legal entities that participated in this scheme, calling them “arms of the Russian Federation military machine”. of the US Department of Justice KleptoCapture and the joint group for the protection of breakthrough technologies (Disruptive Technology Strike Force) of the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce of the United States. These initiatives are aimed at blocking breakthrough technologies and ensuring export control measures.

Along with Yermolenko, Oleksiy Bryman, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, is awaiting sentencing. The case against another defendant, Vadym Konoshchenko, an alleged FSB agent, was dropped after he was deported from the United States in a prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia in August. The other defendants remain at large or are on trial.

The day before Voice of America reported that a court in Florida decided to transport to Washington 44-year-old Russian citizen Denys Postovoy, arrested in the city of Sarasota, Florida, on suspicion of smuggling American parts for the production of Russian drones used in the war against Ukraine.

Postovoy is suspected of violating export restrictions, money laundering, fraud and illegal supply of dual-purpose microelectronics and military microelectronics to Russia from American and foreign distributors, the US Department of Justice quotes Newsweek.

The Justice Department said it is investigating the case jointly with the FBI, BIS and IRS and is coordinating with the Justice Department's KleptoCapture Task Force and the Disruptive Technology Strike Force – Strike group of the ministries of justice and trade on disruptive technologies. The task force counters criminals trying to buy critical technology from the US for authoritarian regimes and hostile states.

US Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs and Estonian authorities provided valuable assistance, the release said.

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