WASHINGTON, December 18 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian man has pleaded guilty in US federal court in Wyoming to attempting to illegally export military-grade thermal-imaging rifle sights from the United States, according to court documents.
Roman Kvinikadze, 32, admitted Tuesday to conspiring to violate the US Arms Export Control Act and attempting to export weapons without a license by trying to ship the munitions to alleged conspirators in Russia, according to documents filed in the US District Court for the District of Wyoming.
Kvinikadze attempted to purchase the rifle sights, which allow the shooter to see the body heat of a target in the dark and which require a license to export, from an undercover agent from the US Department of Homeland Security, The Associated Press reported.
He was arrested in June and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine at his sentencing hearing, which has been scheduled for February 25.
US District Judge Alan Johnson said US immigration authorities plan to deport Kvinikadze back to Russia, the AP reported.
The rifle sights Kvinikadze attempted to buy are produced by American Technologies Network Corp, which describes them on its website as “ideal for nighttime hunting, force protection, border patrol, police SWAT and special operations.”
