A suspected Russian smuggling ring sent millions of dollars worth of banned electronic equipment from the United States for use in building guided missiles and tanks for the Ukraine war, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday. was charged with a crime.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have accused two men and a woman of sending approximately $10 million worth of semiconductors, circuits, and consumer electronic components to Russia through a front company based in Brooklyn, New York.
They are Salimjon Nasridinov, 52, a dual citizen of Russia and Tajikistan who lives in Brooklyn, Kristina Przyreva, 32, and Nikolai Gortsev, 37, both Russian-Canadians from Montreal. is.
Four other Russian nationals have also been charged with involvement in the alleged plot.
Nasridinov was arrested in Brooklyn on October 31, and the others were arrested the same day at a Manhattan hotel before scheduled meetings with him.
They are charged with conspiracy and other charges related to what prosecutors called a “global procurement scheme on behalf of sanctioned Russian companies, including companies associated with the Russian military,” according to a news release.
On February 23, Nasridinov sent a text message to Gortsev wishing him “congratulations, Defender of the Motherland,” referring to a holiday celebrating the armed forces of Russia and some neighboring countries, according to the indictment.
Mr Gortsev is said to have replied: “Have a nice holiday to you too, my friend. We are defending this issue in every way we can.” [smile emoji]. ”
The suspects are suspected of transporting the goods to Turkey, Hong Kong, India, China and the United Arab Emirates, and from there to Russia.
In November 2022, the suspects spoke in text messages about how shipments to Russia had become “dangerous” and said shipments of electronic equipment were being held up at JFK Airport, according to the indictment. .
“I don't really know how they thought [it] I’m out,” Gortsev said in one message.
“As alleged, the defendants evaded sanctions and transported equipment essential to precision-guided weapons systems to Russia, some of which is being used on battlefields in Ukraine,” U.S. Attorney Brion Peace said in a news release. mentioned in.
Ivan J. Alvero, special agent in charge of Homeland Security investigations in New York, said the group shipped about 300 restricted items to the battlefield “in support of the Kremlin in its ongoing attack on Ukraine.” It is suspected that the items were shipped separately.
The United States has imposed severe economic sanctions on numerous companies and individuals involved in Russia's war in Ukraine, making doing business with them a criminal offense.
However, the indictment alleges that the suspects used two U.S. companies, SH Brothers and SN Electronics, to send electronic equipment to sanctioned Russian companies.
Authorities say Mr. Gortsev would place orders on behalf of clients in the Russian defense sector and purchase goods from U.S. manufacturers and distributors using names such as “Nick Stevens” and “Gio Ross.” It is said that The items were then shipped to multiple locations in Brooklyn.
The Commerce Department said the components “are of greatest concern because they play a critical role in the production of Russia's advanced precision-guided weapons systems.”
According to the indictment, the same parts shipped by these companies were also used in seized Russian weapons and signals technology, including radio reconnaissance equipment, light multipurpose guided missiles, anti-aircraft missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and tanks. It is said that there is
February marks the second anniversary of the brutal war in Ukraine, which has claimed thousands of lives on both sides while massive U.S. funding continues to stoke dissension in Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told NBC News' “Meet the Press” earlier this month that the conflict is not a “stalemate.”
