Alleged Russian Operative Charged With Smuggling US Goods to Russia
Vadim Konoshchenok, a Russian citizen allegedly linked to Russia's Federal Security Service, appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on July 14 on charges of conspiracy related to a "global procurement and money laundering" scheme to benefit the Russian state, the U.S. Attorney's Office for that district announced. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.
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Konoshchenok allegedly was affiliated with Moscow-based companies Serniya Engineering and Sertal -- enities that work to "procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment" for the Russian military's research and development sector. These items can be used in nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and "other military applications," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The U.S. sanctioned Serniya, Sertal and various individuals and entities engaged in the procurement scheme following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The indictment says that Konoshchenok frequently would transship U.S.-origin goods through Estonia into Russia. He was detained in October 2022 in Estonia trying to get into Russia with around 35 different types of semiconductor and electronic parts.