Edison Man Exported Guns, Defense Items To Ukraine: Feds

EDISON, NJ — An Edison man admitted to exporting guns, night vision goggles, and bullet proof vests to the Ukraine without a license, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Gene Shilman, 62, an Edison resident by way of the Soviet Union, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Export Control Reform Act in federal court on Wednesday.

For four years, ending in Oct. 2018, Shilman exported weapons and other defense materials regulated by various federal laws to Ukraine without licenses.

"Shilman ordered and received firearm components and parts, ammunition, night-vision goggles and bulletproof vests from various vendors and firearms dealers in the United States. He received numerous wire transfers from overseas locations to pay for the purchase of these items. Shilman repackaged and shipped these munitions to overseas locations without the required export licenses," Carpenito said.

Shilman was caught when he lied on a customs declaration form saying a package heading to Ukraine did not have guns when he really did, Carpenito said. The package had multiple upper receivers, ammunition magazines and threaded barrels for handguns and a set of front and rear sights for a handgun.

Shilman faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.