Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have unsealed an eight-count indictment against Maxim Larin, alleging his involvement in a scheme to illegally export weapons parts and accessories from the United States to countries including Kazakhstan. According to the indictment, these shipments were intended as transshipment points for materials ultimately bound for Russia. Larin faces charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, violating the Export Control Reform Act and Arms Export Control Act, attempted violation of the Arms Export Control Act, smuggling goods from the U.S., and submitting false export information. He was arrested in Plantation, Florida and made his initial court appearance in Miami. His arraignment will occur later in the Eastern District of New York.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York; and Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge at the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Bureau of Industry and Security, announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, Larin agreed to illegally ship export-controlled weapons parts and accessories, including a sophisticated target acquisition system, to Kazakhstan, a known transshipment location for equipment bound for Russia. He lied on export documents and intentionally misrepresented and concealed the true nature of the materials he was shipping,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “My Office will vigorously prosecute efforts to evade U.S. export regulations which threaten our national security and the security of our allies while benefitting Russia. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to hold accountable those individuals who place their own interests above those of our nation and its security.”
Nocella also thanked several agencies for their assistance with this case: Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, HSI’s Miami Field Office, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Maxim Larin is accused of shipping weapons, parts and tactical accessories to countries that serve as pipelines for artillery destined for the Russian battlefield. He allegedly violated export control, willingly mislabeled packaging and labeling, and further utilized deceptive practices to hide the contents of firearms parcels. Make no mistake: this unlawful activity would have persisted if not for the collaborative law enforcement efforts that led to today's charges,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Patel. “HSI New York remains committed to utilizing our unique authorities to relentlessly pursue individuals who seek to exploit U.S. export control laws and in turn threaten public safety and national security.”
“As set forth in the charging documents, Larin conspired to unlawfully export weapons components, including an advanced target acquisition system, to Kazakhstan, a known diversion hub,” stated OEE Special Agent in Charge Carson. “He further sought to conceal the nature of the shipment by falsifying export records. The Bureau of Industry and Security, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws, protect our national security, and bring to justice those who attempt to violate them.”
According to federal authorities’ filings cited in public documents related to this case: Larin owns multiple companies based in the United States that sell firearms parts and accessories. Prosecutors allege he used these businesses as part of a plan beginning around December 2022 with a co-defendant based in Russia by agreeing both parties would undervalue or mislabel exported items' content so as not draw attention from customs officials—at one point warning his co-defendant about “soldiers on packaging” being a possible red flag.
In May 2023 it is alleged Larin agreed—at his Russian partner’s request—to ship enhanced firearms triggers and charging handles (all subject under federal law requiring licenses) but instead labeled them as clothing or tools when exporting them through Kazakhstan without required licensing.
In December 2023 prosecutors say Larin acquired a Rapid Targeting and Ranging Module (“Raptar”), which assists users acquiring long-range targets—a device regulated under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Authorities state that after obtaining it he arranged shipment via another conspirator within America who then tried sending it abroad without permission; Homeland Security investigators intercepted it before it could leave California.
Larin faces up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted on all counts but remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S Attorneys Gilbert M. Rein & David I. Berman alongside Trial Attorney Christopher Cook from DOJ’s National Security Division Counterintelligence/Export Control Section.
