Two Charged Over Illegal Exports to Russia's Nuclear Energy Sector

Two men have been charged with illegal smuggling and conspiring to violate export controls by selling equipment to Russia's nuclear energy industry, the US Attorney's office in Boston announced on Monday. Sam Bhambhani, 55, from North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and Maxim Teslenko, 35, from Moscow, were indicted on one count of smuggling and one count of conspiracy to violate and evade export controls, commit smuggling, and defraud the United States.

"This case underscores our unwavering commitment to enforcing US export laws and safeguarding national security," Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy stated. The defendants allegedly engaged in a sophisticated scheme to evade export controls, deceiving the government about the true destination of sensitive technology and putting critical national interests at risk.

Charges and Potential Sentences

If convicted, Bhambhani and Teslenko face significant penalties. The smuggling charge could result in up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to USD 250,000. The conspiracy charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to USD 250,000.

From 2015 to 2021, prosecutors allege that Bhambhani and Teslenko conspired to export laser welding machines to the Ural Electromechanical Plant (UEMZ) in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The export documents were allegedly falsified to conceal that the equipment was destined for UEMZ. UEMZ is a subsidiary of Rosatom, a Russian state corporation overseeing the country's civilian and military nuclear programs.

Previous Similar Cases

Cases like this are not uncommon. In January, a Kansas businessman pleaded guilty to illegally exporting sensitive aviation technology to Russian companies in violation of U.S. sanctions. Two years ago, the Biden administration announced criminal charges and sanctions related to a scheme to procure military technologies from US manufacturers and supply them illegally to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

No one answered at a phone number listed for Bhambhani, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation. Bhambhani was arrested on September 9 and released following a court appearance. Teslenko remains at large overseas.

The charges against Bhambhani and Teslenko highlight ongoing efforts by US authorities to prevent sensitive technologies from reaching unauthorized foreign entities. These actions aim to protect national security by ensuring that critical technologies do not fall into the wrong hands.

The case continues as authorities seek Teslenko's apprehension while monitoring Bhambhani's legal proceedings.