⏱ 2 min read
An Armenian man was at the center of a brazen scheme to smuggle controlled goods to Russia, dodging US export regulations and sanctions.
Kamo Kirakosyan, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to export goods subject to the Export Administration Regulations without a license from the US Department of Commerce.
The goods, including items for semiconductor manufacturing, were funneled through Armenia to Russia, a move that began shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kirakosyan, who became a straw purchaser for his co-conspirators, arranged for the transshipment of goods to Russia, misrepresenting himself as the Armenian buyer and concealing the true end users.
He was initially charged in July 2024 and extradited from Germany to the US in August 2025.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: Export Crimes
- Location: TX
- Source: DOJ Press Release
