LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Federal officers arrested a global arms vendor accused of exporting firearms to Russia at a Las Vegas gun present, the U.S. Division of Justice stated in a information launch.
A federal grand jury in New York Metropolis indicted Sergei Zharnovnikov, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, on prices of conspiring to export firearms from america to Russia with out the mandatory licenses and with unlawful smuggling.
Zharnovnikov traveled from Kyrgyzstan to Las Vegas in January 2025 to attend the Capturing, Looking, and Out of doors Commerce (SHOT) Present to fulfill with U.S. arms sellers, the discharge stated. He was arrested on Jan. 24.
“As alleged, the defendant operated a sophisticated scheme to circumvent export controls and to export semi-automatic firearms and send them to Russia,” United States Legal professional John J. Durham stated. “Today’s indictment sends a message to the world that we will vigorously enforce statutes that control and restrict the export of items that could be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States, in this case, preventing U.S.-made firearms from getting into the wrong hands.”
The indictment alleges Zharnovnikov, together with others not named, conspired to export firearms from america to Russia relationship again to March 2020. It stated Zharnovnikov would export the firearms from america to Kyrgyzstan after which from Kyrgyzstan to Russia.
In response to the discharge, Zharnovnikov acquired a license to export over $800,000 value of firearms and components to a Kyrgyzstan-based firm from a Virginia-based firm. That license prohibited the export or re-export of firearms to Russia.
Utilizing one other Kyrgyzstan-based firm, Zharnovnikov entered a contract with a Russia-based firm and agreed to export “goods” to Russia for $10 million and would ship the “goods” in batches, the discharge stated.
The illegally exported firearms included semi‑automated hybrid rifle-pistol, the discharge said.
If Zharnovnikov is convicted, he faces as much as 30 years in jail. Zharnovnikov was detained pending trial and might be arraigned within the Jap District of New York at a later date.
