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Two Russia-Born U.S. Citizens Arrested for Conspiring to Send $500,000 Worth of Luxury Goods to Russia
WASHINGTON – In a brazen scheme to evade U.S. export restrictions, Sergey Nefedov, 40, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Mark Shumovich, 35, of Bellevue, Washington, allegedly operated a snowmachine smuggling ring, shipping nearly half a million dollars’ worth of luxury goods to Russia without the required licenses and approvals.
According to an indictment returned yesterday in the District of Alaska, Nefedov and Shumovich conspired with individuals doing business in Russia and Hong Kong to circumvent Russian sanctions by shipping snowmobiles and associated parts to Russia through an intermediary company in Hong Kong. Between March 2022 and May 2023, the defendants allegedly received quotes from U.S.-based snowmachine distributors and freight forwarders to purchase and ship snowmachines, forwarding those quotes to their co-conspirators in Russia.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants engaged in a scheme to evade export restrictions by smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of snowmachines and associated parts to Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This matter is the latest example of our commitment to hold accountable those who violate sanctions laws and our determination to impose costs on the Russian government for its unjustified invasion of Ukraine.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating, “Violations of export laws carry significant consequences for perpetrators in the U.S. and abroad. Our office will continue to work with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and ensure U.S. export restrictions are enforced.”
The indictment alleges that Nefedov and Shumovich conspired with a Russian national who owned a company selling snowmachines in Russia (Co-Conspirator 1, or CC-1) and another Russian national doing business in Hong Kong (Co-Conspirator 2, or CC-2) for shipment of nearly $1 million worth of goods from Hong Kong to Russia. Separately, CC-1 allegedly created invoices for CC-2’s company to purchase snowmachines and other motorsport vehicles from Nefedov’s company, Absolut Auto Sales LLC.
Nefedov and Shumovich were arrested yesterday morning in Alaska and Washington, respectively. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of U.S. law enforcement agencies to enforce export restrictions and hold accountable those who violate sanctions laws.
The charges against Nefedov and Shumovich carry significant consequences, including fines and imprisonment. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of upholding U.S. export laws and maintaining the integrity of the global supply chain.
Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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