A federal jury has found 62-year-old Alexander Mamonov, a Russian national residing in South Florida, guilty of unlawfully exporting nearly one million dollars worth of aviation parts to Russia and the state-owned airline PJSC Aeroflot. This verdict reflects a violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls.
The unanimous decision was delivered in the Southern District of Florida, where Mamonov faced 12 charges, including conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling goods, submitting false export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Court documents and trial testimony revealed that Mamonov, a former Aeroflot employee, relocated from Russia to South Florida. Following the tightening of U.S. export controls—after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022—he conspired with Ignat Vakorin, a Russian citizen currently evading capture under an international warrant.
To deceive U.S. suppliers, they falsely declared that shipments were bound for countries like the United Arab Emirates and China, while in fact, they were redirecting parts to Russia and Aeroflot.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason A. Reding Quiñones, emphasized the significance of the verdict: "Russia cannot bypass U.S. sanctions and export controls by channeling its purchases through South Florida. You can't simply mislabel a shipping destination and expect export laws to disappear. This defendant secretly diverted nearly a million dollars in U.S. aviation parts to Russia and Aeroflot, using false destinations and financial transactions to cover his tracks."
Additionally, FBI Deputy Director of Counterintelligence and Espionage, Roman Rozhavsky, issued a stern warning: "Let this verdict serve as a warning to anyone contemplating smuggling U.S. technology to our adversaries."
Prosecutor Reding Quiñones vowed, "We will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit our district, financial system, or American businesses to undermine U.S. national security."
The formal indictment against Mamonov and Vakorin was issued in April 2025. Federal Judge Kathleen M. Williams has scheduled sentencing for November 20 of this year.
Violations of the Export Control Reform Act can result in up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to one million dollars per charge.
The case was investigated by the FBI's Miami Field Office with assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, which in 2022 took action against Russian airlines for operating aircraft in violation of export regulations.
This case forms part of a broader pattern of Russian attempts to circumvent Western sanctions through intermediaries in third countries.
The Department of Justice has pursued similar cases in recent years: In January 2024, a Kansas business owner pleaded guilty to sending aircraft parts to Russia with false export forms. In February of that year, two Russian nationals in Florida admitted to exporting controlled aviation technology to Russian users; and in February 2025, three individuals linked to an Ohio company were charged with exporting approximately two million dollars in aviation parts to Russia.
Understanding the Legal Implications of Export Violations
What charges did Alexander Mamonov face?
Alexander Mamonov faced 12 charges, including conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling goods, submitting false export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
What are the potential penalties for violating the Export Control Reform Act?
Violations of the Export Control Reform Act can lead to up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to one million dollars per charge.
How did Mamonov and his accomplice attempt to deceive U.S. authorities?
They falsely declared that shipments were intended for countries such as the United Arab Emirates and China, while actually redirecting the parts to Russia and Aeroflot.