U.S. Officers Cost Russian Citizen for Smuggling Twin-Use Expertise
On Monday, September 16, 2024, Denis Postovoy, a 44-year-old Russian citizen residing in Sarasota, Florida, was arrested in reference to an indictment alleging unlawful exports of U.S.-sourced microelectronics to Russia. These microelectronic elements have army purposes, and their export was carried out with out the mandatory licenses.
Costs and Allegations: Illegally Exporting Drone Expertise
The U.S. Division of Justice charged Postovoy with a number of counts, together with violating the Export Management Reform Act, smuggling, cash laundering, and defrauding america. The indictment, which was introduced by U.S. Legal professional Matthew M. Graves and Assistant Legal professional Common Matt Olsen of the Nationwide Safety Division, alleges that Postovoy started exporting these delicate elements in February 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The elements exported by Postovoy have been supposed to be used in unmanned aerial autos (UAVs), generally generally known as drones. The indictment outlines that Postovoy, via his community of firms in Russia, Hong Kong, and different areas, bought the microelectronics from U.S.-based distributors and illegally shipped them to Russia with out acquiring the required licenses from the U.S. Division of Commerce.
In accordance with U.S. Legal professional Graves, “This defendant illegally exported dual-use know-how to Russia that would bolster its capabilities to wage its unprovoked conflict towards Ukraine. As alleged, he lied in regards to the closing vacation spot for the know-how he was transport and used middleman locations to masks this criminal activity.”
Hid Actions and False Documentation
Postovoy is accused of utilizing a wide range of strategies to cover the true finish customers of the microelectronics. The indictment particulars how Postovoy operated firms, together with WowCube HK Restricted, JST Group Hong Kong, and Jove HK Restricted, all based mostly in Hong Kong, and the Vector Group in Russia. He submitted false data on transport paperwork to obscure the ultimate locations of the products, which have been in the end shipped to Russia via middleman areas like Hong Kong and Switzerland.
Funds for these shipments have been made in U.S. {dollars} from overseas financial institution accounts. Postovoy’s firms then transferred the funds via accounts in Russia, Hong Kong, and different areas earlier than making closing funds to U.S. suppliers. These transactions have been dealt with via accounts maintained by the suppliers of microelectronics and different delicate applied sciences inside america.
Particular Agent in Cost Ryan L. Spradlin of Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Denver emphasised the significance of uncovering Postovoy’s actions. “This defendant tried to acquire and illegally export dual-use microelectronics with army purposes, and in the end ship them again to Russia. Mr. Postovoy will now face justice for his duplicity.”
Investigation and Coordination
The investigation into Postovoy’s actions is being led by Homeland Safety Investigations in Colorado Springs. The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Columbia and the Nationwide Safety Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Management Part are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Stuart D. Allen and Trial Legal professional Sean R. Heiden are main the prosecution efforts.
This case falls below the broader scope of efforts coordinated by the Disruptive Expertise Strike Power. The Strike Power is an interagency legislation enforcement initiative that targets illicit actors looking for to amass crucial know-how from the U.S. It’s co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce, with a deal with stopping know-how from being obtained by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.
As acknowledged within the US Legal professional’s Workplace press launch, “An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt in a court docket of legislation.”
Postovoy now faces authorized proceedings as authorities proceed their efforts to fight unlawful exports of delicate know-how.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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