Indian National Sentenced to Prison in US for Illegal Export of Aviation Components to Russia
An Indian national, aged 58, has been handed a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in the United States for his involvement in a conspiracy to unlawfully export controlled aviation components from Oregon to Russia. The sentencing, announced by US Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford, highlighted the deliberate and profit-driven actions of Sanjay Kaushik.
Describing the scheme as calculated and profit-oriented, Bradford emphasized the repeated transactions, significant gains, and collaboration with sanctioned Russian entities. Kaushik’s attempts to undermine critical safeguards for US national security and foreign policy for personal gain were condemned.
The court sentenced Delhi-based Kaushik to 30 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release for his role in conspiring to export controlled aviation components and a navigation and flight control system to Russian end users, contravening the Export Control Reform Act.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg warned that individuals attempting to bypass US export control laws, particularly concerning technologies with military applications, will face full prosecution. He stressed the importance of holding perpetrators of deceitful schemes accountable to ensure the security of the United States.
Court documents revealed that Kaushik conspired with others from early September 2023 to illicitly acquire aerospace goods and technology from the US for entities in Russia. The Justice Department disclosed that the goods were falsely procured under the guise of being intended for Kaushik and his Indian company but were actually destined for Russian end users.
One of the components purchased by Kaushik and his co-conspirators was an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), a device providing navigation and flight control data for aircraft. This type of component requires a license from the Department of Commerce for export to certain countries, including Russia.
To secure the license, Kaushik and his associates misrepresented that his Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter. Despite obtaining the AHRS, it was intercepted before exportation.
Kaushik was apprehended in Miami in October 2024 and has been in custody since then, following a criminal complaint and arrest warrant. Subsequently, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland on charges of conspiracy, attempted illegal export, and making false statements.
In October last year, Kaushik pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell export-controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to Russian end users.
