New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate the Arms Export Control Act

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Michael Stashchyshyn, 56, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Stashchyshyn conspired with others to export night sighting equipment, firearm parts, and ammunition to Ukraine without the requisite license issued by the State Department. The items were purchased in the United States by Stashchyshyn’s co-conspirators, and shipped to Stashchyshyn who owned a freight forwarder business in Parsippany, New Jersey. Stashchyshyn then shipped the items to an individual in Ukraine in violation of U.S. law and regulations. The items shipped are contained on the Federal Munitions List and are controlled by the International Traffic in Arms (ITAR) regulations. They are illegal to ship without a license from the State Department, which the defendant and his co-conspirators did not have.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Charles A. Eberle and Shardul Desai are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Michael Stashchyshyn.