DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN – AN ESTONIAN MAN admitted in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday to his role in a scheme to illegally export over $1 million in sensitive electronic components to Russia, according to Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Andrey Shevlyakov pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export violations, faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment, and will forfeit $1.5 million to the government.
Shevlyakov had been added to a list of persons prohibited from acquiring items from the U.S. without the Department of Commerce’s permission. Using shell companies, Shevlyakov deceived suppliers and bought sensitive technology anyway. He then shipped the goods – including components used in communications, avionics, missiles and electronic warfare systems – to Russian defense contractors and government agencies.
In one instance, Shevlyakov placed an order with a U.S. company for sensitive electronic components, but the company refused to sell to him. Shevlyakov then canceled his order, only to place it again days later under a false name.
Shevlyakov was also involved in making deliveries, crossing from Estonia into Russia over 100 times between 2010 and 2016, according to border records. Additionally, Finnish border authorities once caught him with €70,000 worth of electronics hidden in his vehicle, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
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