NEW YORK â A New Jersey man, Vadim Yermolenko, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and other charges in connection with a scheme to smuggle electronic components to aid Russiaâs military efforts. Yermolenko, who faces up to 30 years in prison, was part of a transnational procurement and money laundering network that aimed to acquire sensitive electronics for Russian military and intelligence services.
Yermolenko, who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenship and resides in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, was indicted along with six other individuals in December 2022.
The conspirators collaborated with Moscow-based companies controlled by Russian intelligence services to acquire electronic components in the U.S. with civilian uses that could also be utilized in nuclear weapons, hypersonic weapons, and quantum computing. Their actions violated U.S. sanctions.
The prosecution was part of the Justice Departmentâs Task Force KleptoCapture, which enforces sanctions following Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Yermolenko is among those brought to justice for enabling Russiaâs military aggression.
Yermolenko was involved in setting up shell companies and U.S. bank accounts to facilitate the movement of money and export-controlled goods. One of his accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper bullets intercepted in Estonia before being smuggled into Russia.
One of Yermolenkoâs co-defendants, Alexey Brayman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentencing. Another co-defendant, Vadim Konoshchenok, was arrested in Estonia and later released from U.S. custody as part of a prisoner exchange.
Four other Russian nationals named in the indictment remain at large, according to prosecutors.
