COLUMBUS, Ohio — Federal prosecutors have charged Flighttime Enterprises Inc., an Ohio-based subsidiary of a Russian aircraft parts supplier, along with three of its current and former employees, in a scheme to illegally export aviation components to Russia in violation of U.S. export laws.
An 11-count indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges that the company, which has offices near West Chester, Ohio, and Miami, Florida, conspired to bypass export restrictions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The accused individuals—Daniela Friery, 43, of Loveland, Ohio; Pavil Iglin, 46, a Russian citizen living in Florida; and Marat Aysin, 39, a U.S. permanent resident in Florida—allegedly misrepresented shipments, falsified end-user certifications, and routed transactions through intermediaries to send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies.
Illegal Ohio Exports to Russia
According to the indictment, the scheme involved at least four illegal export transactions totaling more than $2 million. One notable case detailed in the charges occurred in June 2022, when Flighttime employees negotiated the purchase of an auxiliary power unit for $395,000 from an American supplier.
The supplier initially expressed hesitation about the sale due to Flighttime’s ties to Russia. Prosecutors say Aysin falsely claimed that the part was for inventory at the company’s West Chester, Ohio, location, misleading the supplier into approving the deal. Meanwhile, Iglin allegedly signed a fraudulent end-user certificate, falsely assuring that the part would not be exported to Russia. However, authorities say it was ultimately shipped to a Russian aviation company without the required U.S. government license.
Federal Charges and Potential Penalties
Flighttime Enterprises and the three defendants face multiple federal charges, including:
- One count of conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA)
- Punishable by up to 20 years in prison
- Multiple counts of violating the ECRA
- Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years
- Conspiracy to commit smuggling
- Carries a maximum sentence of five years
- Multiple counts of smuggling
- Each count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison
- Conspiracy to launder money
- Carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison
U.S. Crackdown on Sanctions Evasion
This case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to crack down on sanctions evasion and illegal exports to Russia. In the wake of sweeping U.S. sanctions against Russian industries, federal investigators have increased scrutiny on companies attempting to circumvent restrictions through third-party countries and deceptive business practices.
With one of the main offices in Ohio, Flighttime Enterprises’ role in the scheme underscores the growing challenges of enforcing export laws domestically, as U.S. authorities work to cut off Russia’s access to Western technology in response to the war in Ukraine.