The former vice president of a Kansas company has pleaded guilty to charges related to a scheme to illegally export sophisticated U.S. avionics equipment to Russia and other foreign countries with ties to Russia.
Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Olathe, Kansas, entered his guilty plea on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge John W. Lungstrum in Kansas City, Kansas. Robertson served as the vice president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., a Kansas-based company.
“Robertson, by his own admission, conspired to sell advanced U.S. avionics equipment to Russian customers in violation of U.S. law,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Justice Department will not tolerate those who seek to undermine the effectiveness of export controls that protect critical U.S. technology and deter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.”
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According to court documents, Robertson conspired with others, including KanRus owner Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, to circumvent U.S. export laws. The scheme involved:
- Filing False Export Forms: KanRus knowingly submitted false information on export forms, including lying about the value, end users, and final destinations of the equipment.
- Failing to File Required Forms: KanRus neglected to file necessary export forms for some of the shipments.
- Continuing Exports After Sanctions: Even after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, KanRus continued to illegally export avionics equipment.
“Robertson’s guilty plea is reflective of the strong evidence gathered against him by federal investigators and the solid case presented by federal prosecutors,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “Our nation is both proud and grateful to these men and women at the Department of Justice who seek to protect the United States and our national security interests from adversaries both foreign and domestic.”
Avionics equipment plays a critical role in the operation of aircraft, including navigation, communication, and instrument systems. Exporting such technology to certain countries is heavily regulated due to national security concerns.
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Robertson faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million when he is sentenced on October 3, 2024.
Buyanovsky pleaded guilty to similar charges in December 2023 and was ordered to forfeit over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories, along with a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.
A third co-defendant, a former KanRus broker named Igor Chistyakov, was arrested in Riga, Latvia in March 2024. He remains detained in Latvia pending extradition proceedings.
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