New York – Vadim Yermolenko, a dual U.S. and Russian national, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for orchestrating a global export control and sanctions evasion scheme that funneled sensitive electronics and ammunition to the Russian military.
In addition to his imprisonment term, Yermolenko was ordered by Judge Hector Gonzalez to pay a $75,547.00 forfeiture judgment. The defendant had pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiracy charges including violating the Export Control Reform Act, bank fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr., emphasized that Yermolenko’s actions posed a threat to national security. “The defendant lied to banks, facilitated illegal exports, and evaded taxes—all in service of Russian military interests,” Nocella stated. “This sentence sends a clear message: we will find you, prosecute you, and seek significant punishment for those who abuse our financial system for foreign nations’ gain.”
FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia highlighted the FBI’s commitment to defending against such threats. “Yermolenko violated U.S. laws in an attempt to bolster Russia’s military capabilities. The sentence today should serve as a warning to those who seek to evade sanctions and acquire American goods for adversarial foreign governments,” Raia said.
IRS-CI Special Agent Harry T. Chavis Jr. underscored the collaboration necessary to dismantle such networks. “Yermolenko’s greed and foreign allegiance posed a threat to our national security. The law enforcement collaboration on this case is a testament to our dedication to keeping our communities safe from such vulnerabilities,” Chavis stated.
The scheme involved Yermolenko using shell companies and bank accounts to launder over $12 million, purchasing sensitive military equipment for Russia in violation of U.S. laws. Serniya Engineering (Serniya) and Sertal LLC (Sertal), Moscow-based procurement companies, were also involved in the scheme, which led to their designation by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in February 2022.
RELATED: Yermolenko Sentenced for Global Arms Smuggling Scheme
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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