Bean Town Times

BOSTON – The President of a freight forwarding company has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a license.

Kirill Gordei, 34, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer, which is a commerce control item. Gordei was arrested on June 30, 2024, in Florida and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida yesterday. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Gordei is a citizen of Belarus and the United States who resides in Hallandale, Fla. He is the President of Apelsin Logistics, a freight forwarding company located in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites both registered and hosted in Russia.

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 11, 2023, Gordei allegedly falsely claimed that he was shipping an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer—an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic, industry research, government and omics laboratories—to Uzbekistan when it was destined for Russia. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, stringent export controls were implemented restricting Russia’s access to technologies needed to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports to or within Russia were expanded to cover sensitive items subject to controls on a Controlled Commerce List. The Spectrometer valued at over $600,000 required a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security to export to Russia.

“By allegedly smuggling sensitive technology to Russia, Mr. Gordei undermined the critical framework established to protect national security,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case highlights the importance of enforcing export controls... Our office will prosecute those who attempt to circumvent U.S. laws for personal or commercial gain.”

“As alleged," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division,"Gordei defrauded U.S. government export regulators and smuggled advanced scientific technology... placing personal profit over national security."

Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod stated: "Freight forwarders play an outsized role... expected to help uphold the law rather than subvert it... Kirill Gordei—is alleged to have willfully evaded restrictions designed to degrade the Russian war machine."

The charge of Exporting Commerce Control Items provides for up to 20 years in prison with five years supervised release and fines up to $250,000; Smuggling Goods carries up to ten years imprisonment with three years supervised release plus fines; Conspiracy charges could result in five years imprisonment with three years supervised release along with fines.

Acting U.S Attorney Levy along with Assistant Secretary Axelrod made this announcement today noting assistance from various agencies including U.S Customs & Border Protection among others while prosecution led by Assistant U.S Attorney Laura J Kaplan aided by Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani continues.

The details contained within these charging documents remain allegations until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within court proceedings.

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