Estonian National Extradited to the United States to Face Charges for Helping Russian Military Acquire U.S Electronics

BROOKLYN, NY – Andrey Shevlyakov was arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.  He is charged in an indictment with conspiracy and seventeen other counts related to an international procurement scheme to source U.S.-made electronics and technology for the Russian government and military. Shevlyakov, an Estonian national, was arrested in Estonia on a provisional arrest warrant issued from the Eastern District of New York.  He was extradited from Estonia to the United States on August 28, 2025.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Douglas A. Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston; and Trey McClish, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security – Office of Export Enforcement’s Dallas Field Office announced the extradition.

“As alleged, the defendant supplied the Russian military with sophisticated electronics after misleading U.S. companies,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt Russia’s illegal procurement of U.S. technology that threatens our national security and the security of our allies.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) for their valuable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Shevlyakov.

“We welcome Mr. Shevlyakov to the United States to face justice,” stated Special Agent in Charge Williams.  “His illegal acquisition of U.S. semiconductor technology on behalf of the Russian military endangered U.S. national security, which the FBI fights so hard to protect.  This case highlights Russia’s willingness to break U.S. laws to modernize its military and weapon systems with U.S. technology.  We’re grateful to all our international partners who made Shevlyakov’s capture and extradition possible."

As alleged in the indictment and other public court filings, the defendant engaged in a years-long effort to evade U.S. export controls.  His scheme involved procuring and delivering sensitive U.S. technology to end-users in Russia, including defense contractors and Russian government agencies.  The defendant was added to the U.S Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security’s entity list, meaning that he was prohibited from acquiring any items from the United States without permission from the Department of Commerce.  To evade these prohibitions, the defendant used a series of shell companies to order electronics and other items from U.S.-based suppliers.  He also misled U.S. suppliers about the ultimate destination for the sensitive electronics they provided to him.

Over the course of his scheme, the defendant procured hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of sensitive electronics. The items acquired by the defendant included low-noise pre-scalers and synthesizers used to conduct high-frequency communications.  He also obtained analog-to-digital converters which are used in defense systems including avionics, missiles, and electronic warfare systems.  The defendant communicated with Russian defense contractors and telecommunication companies about these sensitive items.  He also traveled extensively between Russia and Estonia to deliver the items he had obtained.

On one occasion, the defendant was caught smuggling goods into Russia by customs authorities in Finland.  When stopped at the Russian border, the defendant’s car was searched and authorities found electronics and semiconductors dispersed among groceries and luggage and hidden in several other places, including the car’s spare tire compartment.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Mindlin and Gilbert M. Rein are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. 

The Defendant:

ANDREY SHEVLYAKOV
Age: 48
Tallinn, Estonia

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-490 (RPK)