Estonian National Pleads Guilty to Exporting Electronics for the Benefit of Russian Military

BROOKLYN, NY - Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Andrey Shevlyakov pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export violations for his role in a procurement network which obtained sensitive electronics for the benefit of Russian military and government contractors. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner. When sentenced, Shevlyakov faces a maximum sentence of 40 years' imprisonment. The defendant has agreed to forfeit approximately $1.5 million to the government. Shevlyakov was arrested by Estonian authorities in 2023 and was extradited to the United States in August 2025.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Jason M. Hudson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston; and Ramon Alvarado, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement's Dallas Field Office, announced the guilty plea.

"For nearly a decade the defendant operated a foreign procurement network and supplied sophisticated U.S. technology to hostile Russian military actors, undermining U.S. national security and the security of our allies," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "Today's guilty plea demonstrates that our Office will vigorously prosecute and hold to account those who aid Russian attempts to illegally procure U.S. technology, no matter who they are or where they reside."

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs and the Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) for their assistance in investigating the defendant's conduct and securing his arrest and extradition.

"Andrey Shevlyakov's arrest was the result of a spinoff case from a much larger FBI investigation that goes back some 14 years," stated FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Hudson, "Given the length, complexities and transnational borders involved, this case was extremely difficult, but at the end of the day our team endured and justice prevailed. Shevlyakov's plea is the result of the FBI's commitment to national security and relentlessness in preventing our foreign adversaries from illegally acquiring U.S. technologies for their weapons systems - technologies that can one day be used against our own service members."

According to court documents, Shevlyakov engaged in a years-long effort to evade U.S. export controls. The defendant was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security's Entity list (Entity List), meaning he was prohibited from acquiring any items from the United States without the Department of Commerce's permission. Using multiple shell companies, Shevlyakov deceived U.S. manufacturers and suppliers and acquired sensitive technology and electronics. He then shipped the items to end-users in Russia, including defense contractors and Russian government agencies.

Shevlyakov was aware of his prohibited status but flouted U.S. export controls. In one instance, Shevlyakov placed an order with a U.S. company for sensitive electronic components, but the company refused to sell to the defendant and informed him he was on the Entity List. Shevlyakov then canceled his order, only to place it again days later using a different email address and under a false name.

Shevlyakov's scheme caused the illegal export of over $1 million worth of sensitive electronics from the United States. The items he obtained for his Russian customers included low-noise pre-scalers and synthesizers used to conduct high-frequency communications. He also obtained analogy-to-digital converters which are used in defense systems, including avionics, missiles, and electronic warfare systems. He communicated extensively with Russian defense contractors and telecommunications companies about the sensitive items he procured.

Shevlyakov traveled extensively between Estonia and Russia to deliver the items he obtained. International border crossing records for the period 2010-2016 show that during that period, Shevlyakov crossed the Estonian border and into Russia over 100 times, many times on same-day trips. Records provided by the Finnish government show that the defendant was stopped by Finnish authorities while trying to smuggle electronics into Russia. Shevlyakov failed to provide a customs declaration, and Finnish border guards searched the defendant's car and discovered approximately €70,000 worth of electronics hidden throughout the vehicle.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Mindlin and Gilbert Rein are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Maria Fedor of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Matthew Jennings, Rebecca Roth, and Emma Tavangari.

The Defendant:

ANDREY SHEVLYAKOV
Age:
Tallinn, Estonia

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-490 (RPK)