Two Russian nationalists have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) through a scheme to export controlled aviation technology to Russia. Over $4.5 million in unlawful transactions were conducted between the defendants, in addition to selling sensitive aircraft parts to Russian companies.
Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin, residents of Miami-Dade County in Florida, conspired to evade U.S. export laws in order to send the aircraft technology belonging to the United States. This scheme began in May 2022, three months after the Russian-Ukraine war began. According to a press release by the Department of Justice, "the illegal actions of the defendants continued for a year." The defendants would obtain orders for different aviation parts through Russian buyers and exporting the parts from United States suppliers. The items that they were exporting were confidential and required a license from the Department of Commerce for export.
Their plea carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison because they did not have a license as per the ECRA requirements. When meeting with U.S. suppliers, Patsulya and Besedin would conceal their illegal exports by making false claims that hid their customers' identities. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said, "By their own admission, the defendants fraudulently procured millions of dollars’ worth of U.S.-origin aircraft equipment to smuggle it to Russian airline companies." He further added that "These pleas are the latest example of the Department’s commitment to bringing justice those whose crimes enrich the Russian regime."
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland commented on this matter saying, "These defendants smuggled sensitive aircraft technology into Russia following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and did so in violation of laws designed to protect America’s national security." He concluded by stating that "Today’s guilty pleas reflect the seriousness with which the Justice Department approaches violations of the law that endanger the United States and benefit our adversaries."
