Russian Man In FL Illegally Exported Military Drone Technology: US DOJ

SARASOTA, FL — A Russian citizen faces charges for illegally exporting military drone technology out of the United States, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Denis Postovoy, 44, was charged with conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act, to commit money laundering and to defraud the U.S.

Starting in February 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Postovoy “procured and illicitly exported from the United States to Russia microelectronic components with military applications,” the DOJ said. “The exported microelectronics can be used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones).”

He and his network bought the microelectronics from U.S.-based distributors through a web of companies that he owns or operates in Russia and Hong Kong. Then, they exported them to Russia without the licenses required by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“According to the indictment, this defendant illegally exported dual-use technology to Russia that could bolster its capabilities to wage its unprovoked war against Ukraine,” Matthew Graves, U.S. attorney, said. “As alleged, he lied about the final destination for the technology he was shipping and used intermediary destinations to mask this illegal activity. Fortunately, our skilled law enforcement partners at (Homeland Security Investigations) and our dedicated attorneys unraveled the plot.”

Postovoy’s companies included WowCube HK Limited, JST Group Hong Kong, Jove HK Limited, all based in Hong Kong, and the Vector Group in Russia, according to the DOJ.

He submitted false documents about the end users and end destinations of the microelectronics, which were sent to Russia through intermediaries in Hong Kong, Switzerland and elsewhere.

Postovoy received payments in U.S. dollars from foreign bank accounts. His companies transferred funds for the purchase and shipment of the goods through bank accounts in Hong Kong, Russia, and elsewhere to bank accounts in the United States, including accounts maintained by the U.S. suppliers of microelectronics and other sensitive technologies.