New Delhi, Jan 17: A 30-month prison sentence has been handed to a Delhi man for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle controlled aerospace technology to Russia. Sanjay Kaushik was convicted of violating the Export Control Reform Act after attempting to move high-tech aircraft components from the United States to sanctioned Russian organizations.
Court documents show the conspiracy began in September 2023, with Kaushik acting as a middleman. He used his Indian-based company to provide a false “end-user” certificate to an Oregon supplier, a tactic meant to hide the final Russian destination of the goods. The Department of Justice noted that the intercepted equipment included a navigation system that requires a specific license for export to Russia due to its dual-use potential.
“The security of the United States demands that perpetrators of deceitful schemes like this one are held accountable,” Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg mentioned in a statement.
The scheme was interrupted when the navigation hardware was detained by authorities before it could leave the country. Kaushik pleaded guilty last October to conspiracy charges, admitting he sought to undermine American foreign policy for financial gain.
Federal officials noted that the case highlights the ongoing monitoring of international supply chains to prevent sensitive technology from reaching restricted territories. Kaushik’s conviction followed a grand jury indictment in Portland for making false statements and attempted illegal export.
