Sergey Nechaev, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was arrested in the Southern District of Georgia for allegedly attempting to illegally export two small aircraft to Russia. The U.S. government seized the aircraft in connection with the arrest.
The indictment states that between March 3 and March 24, 2023, Nechaev attempted to evade U.S. export control laws by trying to smuggle two Cessna aircraft from the United States to Russia via Armenia. Following stricter controls imposed on Russia in February 2022, Nechaev sought to export a 1968 Cessna 172K and a 1973 Cessna, valued at approximately $170,000 combined, to a supposed Russian flight school without obtaining the necessary license or authorization from the Department of Commerce. He allegedly misrepresented Armenia as the end user and destination.
Nechaev faces charges for attempting to export controlled goods without a license under the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law, and providing false information in Electronic Export Information paperwork through the Automated Export System. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for unlawful attempted export of controlled goods; up to 10 years for smuggling; and up to five years for falsifying export information. The aircraft may also be forfeited as property involved in the crime. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering various factors.
Stephanie M. Hinds, Director, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
| website U.S. Department of Justice
The case is being investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Prosecutors include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia along with Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Fatema Merchant from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
The investigation was coordinated through Task Force KleptoCapture by the Justice Department—a task force focused on enforcing sanctions and countermeasures against Russia following its military invasion of Ukraine since 2014. Announced by Attorney General on March 2, 2022, it operates under leadership from the Office of Deputy Attorney General.
An indictment is an allegation only; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.