Russian National Sentenced for Money Laundering, Sanctions & Export Control Violations

The sentencing of Russian national Oleg Sergeyevhich Patsulya to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a sophisticated export control and money laundering conspiracy highlights the growing enforcement focus on sanctions violations related to Russia. Patsulya’s operation involved the illegal export of controlled aviation technology—including carbon disc brake systems for Boeing 737 aircraft—to Russian airline companies, despite strict trade sanctions and export control laws designed to limit such transfers.

This case is a clear demonstration of how sanctions evasion schemes are evolving in complexity. Patsulya, operating from Florida, used shell companies, false documentation, and multi-layered financial transactions to obscure the true destination of sensitive aerospace components. By routing payments through Turkish banks and misrepresenting end-users, the conspirators attempted to bypass the U.S. sanctions regime and funnel over $4.5 million in illicit trade to Russia.

Judge Dominic W. Lanza emphasised the seriousness of Patsulya’s offences, stating it was “hard to imagine a bigger betrayal” of the United States—particularly given that Patsulya had recently been granted a visa. The court also imposed asset forfeiture, including a luxury car and a personal boat, underscoring the financial penalties that can accompany sanctions breaches.

This case was brought to prosecution with the support of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Commerce. The Strike Force is specifically tasked with combating illicit technology transfers and enforcing sanctions against authoritarian regimes. Its collaborative approach—bringing together intelligence, enforcement, and export control expertise—proves critical in identifying and disrupting schemes that pose threats to national security and the global rules-based order.

As Western governments continue to tighten sanctions on Russia in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine, this prosecution sends a strong message. Companies across the aviation, shipping, and financial sectors must heighten their compliance vigilance, particularly in relation to high-risk jurisdictions and dual-use technologies. The consequences of ignoring export controls or enabling sanctions evasion—whether through negligence or complicity—are becoming increasingly severe.

Read the press release here.