Current:Home > FinanceA Kansas City-area man has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges over aviation exports to Russia -FinanceMind
A Kansas City-area man has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges over aviation exports to Russia
View
Date:2025-04-28 00:34:28
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City-area man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal criminal charges accusing him of conspiring with a business partner to illegally export aviation-related technology to Russia, even after its invasion of Ukraine.
Douglas Edward Robertson’s plea to 26 criminal counts came a day after his business partner, Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, pleaded guilty to two of those charges and agreed to the U.S. government’s seizure of $500,000 of assets, most of them held by their company, KanRus Trading Co.
Prosecutors have alleged that KanRus supplied aircraft electronics to Russian companies and offered repair services for equipment used in Russian-manufactured aircraft. Buyanovksy, 60, was the company’s founder and president, and Robertson, 56, was its vice president.
Their arrests in March came as the U.S. ramped up sanctions and financial penalties on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Along with thousands of sanctions on people and companies, export controls were designed to limit Russian access to computer chips and other products for equipping a modern military.
Branden Bell, a Kansas City, Missouri, attorney representing Robertson, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment following a court hearing Wednesday in Kansas City, Kansas. The U.S. Department of Justice, which is handling questions about the case, did not immediately respond to an email.
Robertson is from the Kansas City suburb of Olathe, Kansas. The charges against him include conspiring to commit crimes against the U.S.; exporting controlled goods without a license; falsifying and failing to file electronic export information; illegally smuggling goods; money laundering; and conspiring to launder money internationally.
Buyanovsky is from Lawrence, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Kansas City, home to the main University of Kansas campus. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty in Kansas City, Kansas, to conspiring to launder money internationally and conspiring to commit crimes against the U.S. His sentencing is scheduled for March 21, and he faces up to 25 years in prison.
The indictment against the two men alleged that since 2020, they conspired to evade U.S. export laws by concealing and misstating the true end users and destinations of their exports. Prosecutors said they shipped goods through intermediary companies in Armenia, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates and used foreign bank accounts outside Russia to funnel money from Russian customers to KanRus in the U.S.
veryGood! (14)
Related
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Bison gores 83-year-old woman at Yellowstone, lifts her a foot off the ground
- A Black medic wounded on D-Day saved dozens of lives. He’s finally being posthumously honored
- Why Michael Crichton's widow chose James Patterson to finish his 'Eruption' book
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect returning to court after a renewed search of his home
- New Jersey Democrats and Republicans picking Senate, House candidates amid Menendez corruption trial
- Remains of World War II soldier killed in 1944 identified, returned home to Buffalo
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Gang members at prison operated call center and monitored crocodile-filled lake, Guatemala officials say
Ranking
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Minnesota prosecutor was reluctant to drop murder charge against trooper, but ultimately did
- Scottie Scheffler says he’s still trying to move past his arrest even after charges were dropped
- Chinese spacecraft lands on far side of moon
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- How Trump’s deny-everything strategy could hurt him at sentencing
- Man catches 'massive' 95-pound flathead catfish in Oklahoma reservoir: See the catch
- US Supreme Court sends Arkansas redistricting case back to judges after South Carolina ruling
Recommendation
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
The Bachelorette: Meet the 25 Men Competing for Jenn Tran's Final Rose
'Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up': Premiere date, trailer, how to watch
Conservative University of Wisconsin regent resigns after initially refusing to step down
Sam Taylor
The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that voting is not a fundamental right. What’s next for voters?
'Kingdom' star Jonathan Tucker helps neighbors to safety during home invasion incident
Fearless Fund blocked from giving grants only to Black women in victory for DEI critics