(CNN) Two US citizens were arrested in Kansas City on Thursday for allegedly sending US aerospace technology to Russia, the Justice Department said.
Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 59, and Douglas Robertson, 55, face multiple charges including exporting controlled goods without a license, forgery and failure to submit electronic export information, and smuggling goods in violation of US law.
Her arrest is the latest move by the Justice Department’s KleptoCapture task force, made up of federal prosecutors, investigators and analysts, who have been working over the past year to lead a global anti-money laundering and sanctions evasion campaign in support of the Russian government. His work has led to more than 30 indictments against sanctioned supporters of the Kremlin and the Russian military, according to the Justice Ministry.
The two men’s US-based KanRus Trading Company sold and installed Western electronic equipment on aircraft, according to prosecutors, and allegedly sold equipment to Russian companies and provided repair services for Russian aircraft. To avoid US sanctions, prosecutors say Buyanovsky and Robertson hid who their customers were, lied about how much products cost, and paid from foreign bank accounts.
After Russia’s war in Ukraine began last year, the US government imposed additional sanctions on supplies to Russia. Buyanovsky and Robertson discussed their options to continue sending shipments to at least one customer in Russia, prosecutors said, including by sending shipments through third countries.
A February 2022 KanRus shipment was flagged by the Department of Commerce for not having proper licensing, according to the indictment.
Soon after, Robertson, a commercial pilot, allegedly told a Russia-based client that “things are complicated in the US” and that bills had to be less than $50,000 or else there would be “more paperwork and transparency,” he added adding “This is NOT the right time for either.” A shipment to that Russian customer was later sent via Laos, prosecutors say.
Attorneys for Buyanovsky and Robertson are not yet listed.
CNN’s Jack Forrest contributed to this report.