Indian-origin man charged in United States for conspiring to export controlled aviation components to Russia

The Indian-origin man was identified as 57-year-old Sanjay Kaushik.

"Kaushik is also charged with attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, and with making false statements in connection with an export," read the statement issued by the US Department of Justice.

He was arrested in Miami, Florida, on Oct. 17, pursuant to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by the District of Oregon.

According to the court documents, beginning as early as March 2023, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kaushik conspired with others to unlawfully obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia.

"The goods were purchased under the false pretence that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, when in fact they were destined for Russian end users," the statement said.

In one such instance, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is a device that provides navigation and flight control data for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier.

Components such as the AHRS require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia.

To obtain an export license for the AHRS, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushik’s Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter.

Kaushik and his co-conspirators obtained the AHRS – which was ultimately detained before it was exported from the United States – on behalf of and with the intention of shipping it, through India, to a customer in Russia.

If convicted, Kaushik faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million for each count in the indictment.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.