New York (US)

An Indian national, 58-year-old Sanjay Kaushik, has been sentenced to 30 months in a US federal prison for conspiring to illegally export controlled aviation components from Oregon to Russia. He will also serve 36 months of supervised release following his prison term.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Kaushik orchestrated a profit-driven scheme, repeatedly attempting to bypass US export controls in coordination with foreign co-conspirators, including sanctioned Russian entities. “This defendant sought to undermine safeguards critical to US national security and foreign policy for personal gain,” said US Attorney Scott Bradford.

Kaushik pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of conspiracy to sell dual-use aviation technology to Russian end users in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. His plan involved acquiring aerospace components, including an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), a navigation and flight control device, from an Oregon supplier under false pretenses.

Court documents reveal that Kaushik and his co-conspirators misrepresented the Indian company he owned as the end user, claiming the components were destined for civilian helicopters. In reality, the equipment was intended for Russian entities. The AHRS components were intercepted before export, preventing their illegal transfer.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg emphasized the seriousness of the case: “Those who attempt to circumvent US export laws, especially for technologies with military applications, will be held accountable. The security of the United States depends on it.”

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Kaushik was arrested in Miami in October 2024 and indicted a month later by a federal grand jury in Portland on charges including conspiracy, attempted illegal export, and making false statements.

The case highlights ongoing US efforts to enforce export control regulations, particularly for technologies that have both civilian and military applications, and to prevent them from reaching sanctioned countries such as Russia.