U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced that the 43-year-old Yermolenko faces a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years for his involvement in an international procurement and money laundering network aimed at acquiring sensitive electronics for the Russian military and intelligence services. Yermolenko, who resides in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, holds dual citizenship in the United States and Russia and was originally charged alongside six other defendants in December 2022.
Prosecutors revealed that the conspirators collaborated with two Moscow-based companies, controlled by Russian intelligence, to obtain electronic components in the U.S. These components, which can be utilized for civilian purposes, also have potential applications in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons and in quantum computing. This export of technology constituted a violation of U.S. sanctions.
The prosecution was coordinated through the Department of Justice’s Kleptocapture Task Force, an inter-agency initiative dedicated to enforcing sanctions imposed on Russia following its aggressive actions in Ukraine. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Yermolenko has joined nearly two dozen other defendants brought to justice in U.S. courts for facilitating Russia’s military aggression over the past two and a half years.
According to court documents, Yermolenko assisted in setting up shell companies and U.S. bank accounts to transfer funds and export-controlled goods. Notably, one of his accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper ammunition, which was intercepted in Estonia before being smuggled into Russia.
Among Yermolenko’s co-defendants, Alexey Bremein from Merrimack, New Hampshire, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentencing. Another co-defendant, Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service, was arrested in Estonia and later extradited to the U.S. He was subsequently released from U.S. custody in a prisoner exchange involving journalist Evan Gershkovich and others.
Prosecutors also indicated that four other Russian nationals, named in the indictment, remain at large as the investigation continues.
