Ukrainian Sentenced to Prison for Trying to Ship Controlled Item to Russia

A Ukrainian citizen last living in Estonia was sentenced on Nov. 13 to 33 months in prison for skirting U.S. export laws by trying to smuggle a dual-use export-controlled "500 Series CPWZ Precision Jig Grinder" to Russia, DOJ announced. Stanislav Romanyuk, who was charged in 2022 (see 2210200023), pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme, admitting to brokering the sale of the jig grinder from an Estonia-based company he operated.

DOJ added that Romanyuk gave false information to Estonian authorities about the transaction, and the item was intercepted in Latvia before it was sent to Russia. Around $826,000 in funds linked to the purchase of the jig grinder were forfeited, and a "substantial portion of the forfeited funds were transferred to Estonia to provide aid to Ukraine."