Naum Morgovsky, Night Vision Rifle Scope Export Scheme, California 2023

Naum Morgovsky, 62-Year-Old Bay Area Resident, Charged in Scheme to Export Night Vision Rifle Scopes to Russia

In a shocking revelation, Naum Morgovsky, a 62-year-old Bay Area resident, has been charged with allegedly violating the Arms Export Control Act by exporting night vision rifle scope components to Russia without a license. The superseding indictment, filed on today, supplements bank fraud charges that were leveled in September of last year against Naum Morgovsky and Mark Migdal.

According to the superseding indictment, Naum and Irina Morgovsky owned night vision businesses in the United States and purchased numerous scope components, including image intensifier tubes and lenses. The Morgovskys allegedly conspired to ship these items to a night vision manufacturing company in Moscow, Russia, partly owned by Naum Morgovsky. The United States Munitions List prohibits the export of the items unless the exporter obtains a license from the State Department, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

The superseding indictment alleges that the Morgovskys took steps to conceal their crimes, including laundering the proceeds of the export conspiracy and using a bank account in the name of a deceased person to conceal the ownership and control of the scheme’s proceeds. Irina Morgovsky allegedly used a passport that she fraudulently obtained in the name of another individual to travel to Russia three times in 2007.

The superseding indictment includes the charges against Naum Morgovsky and Mark Migdal in the indictment filed in September of 2016. The charges against Naum Morgovsky include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The maximum statutory sentences against Naum Morgovsky are as follows:

• Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud: 30 years; $1,000,000 fine
• Bank Fraud: 30 years; $1,000,000 fine
• Bank Fraud: 30 years; $1,000,000 fine
• Aggravated Identity Theft: 2 years consecutive

The charges and maximum statutory sentences against Naum Morgovsky demonstrate the severity of the crimes he is accused of committing. The superseding indictment provides a detailed account of the alleged crimes and the steps taken by the Morgovskys to conceal their activities.

The case against Naum Morgovsky is a stark reminder of the importance of complying with export control regulations and the severe consequences of violating these laws.

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