Eight held in US over 'Russian hi-tech smuggling plot'

Gerald · 10-04-12, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Eight people have been arrested in Houston, Texas, on charges of illegally exporting hi-tech components to Russian security bodies.

Alexander Fishenko, who owns companies in Texas and Moscow, was charged with operating in the US as an unregistered agent of the Russian government.

The indictment names 11 suspects, all of whom are due in court in Houston except for three who are in Russia.

There was no immediate comment on the charges from those detained.

However, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Sergei Ryabkov, quoted US officials as saying the charges were "of a criminal nature".

They bore "no relation whatsoever to any intelligence-gathering activities", he told Russia's Ria-Novosti news agency.

Mr Fishenko, 46, a naturalised US citizen and owner of Houston-based company Arc Electronics Inc, was also charged with laundering money.

The US keeps strict controls on the export of cutting-edge microelectronics, which could be used in radar and surveillance systems, weapons guidance systems and detonation triggers.

A Houston FBI statement names six men and five women as suspects, ranging in age from 31 to 58.

Under US sentencing guidelines, Mr Fishenko faces more than 12 years in prison if convicted on all of the charges.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19826851

Note: 4 October 2012 Last updated at 10:46 GMT

eddie · 10-04-12, 11:58 AM

Glad they caught them!

Gerald · 10-04-12, 12:07 PM

Maybe it was "on time", like this operation always takes time to unravel, much to work so they here the law is made, become as efficient as possible and waterproof.

Gerald · 10-05-12, 08:16 AM

Russian Agent and 10 Other Members of Procurement Network for Russian Military and Intelligence Operating in the U.S. and Russia Indicted in New York.

http://www.fbi.gov/houston/press-rel...ed-in-new-york

geetrue · 10-05-12, 12:58 PM

This is bigger than it looks ... like the border wars say they only catch 10% of the illegals crossing.

I wonder what it is on spies???

Right there in Neal's back yard too

Gerald · 10-05-12, 01:06 PM

^Do you think we can get a statement by Neal,

Herr-Berbunch · 10-05-12, 01:20 PM

Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Rather than knee-jerk 'hang them'.

Catfish · 10-05-12, 02:11 PM

Maybe it is more about 'normal crime' than working as russian agents, we will see.

On the other hand:
" [...] The US keeps strict controls on the export of cutting-edge microelectronics, which could be used in radar and surveillance systems, weapons guidance systems and detonation triggers [...]"

I thought most of this stuff is meanwhile produced in China, and sent to the US ?

http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/05/2...-military-chip

http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-...hut-off-2011-6

Although a lot of chips used in the US military is indeed produced in China, i guess the "disarming" capabality is nonsense, apart of rendering the devices itself useless because of sheer failing of some of the chinese chips.

Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

Gerald · 10-06-12, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Rather than knee-jerk 'hang them'.

At all times,

Jimbuna · 10-06-12, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetrue

This is bigger than it looks ... like the border wars say they only catch 10% of the illegals crossing.

I wonder what it is on spies???

Right there in Neal's back yard too

Anyone seen or heard from Neal lately?

kraznyi_oktjabr · 10-06-12, 03:07 PM

Nice. China and Russia get American technology as they use "creative" methods to obtain it. At same time U.S. ally Canada has troubles in obtaining it legally because of ITAR rules.

As consequence the Royal Canadian Navy is updating its vessels with as much ITAR-free equipment as possible.

10-04-12, 11:58 AM	#2
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	Glad they caught them! __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

10-04-12, 12:07 PM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Maybe it was "on time", like this operation always takes time to unravel, much to work so they here the law is made, become as efficient as possible and waterproof. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-05-12, 08:16 AM	#4
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Russian Agent and 10 Other Members of Procurement Network for Russian Military and Intelligence Operating in the U.S. and Russia Indicted in New York. http://www.fbi.gov/houston/press-rel...ed-in-new-york __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-05-12, 12:58 PM	#5
geetrue Cold War Boomer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Walla Walla Posts: 2,837 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	This is bigger than it looks ... like the border wars say they only catch 10% of the illegals crossing. I wonder what it is on spies??? Right there in Neal's back yard too __________________

10-05-12, 01:06 PM	#6
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	^Do you think we can get a statement by Neal, __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-05-12, 01:20 PM	#7
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Rather than knee-jerk 'hang them'. __________________

10-05-12, 02:11 PM	#8
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Maybe it is more about 'normal crime' than working as russian agents, we will see. On the other hand: " [...] The US keeps strict controls on the export of cutting-edge microelectronics, which could be used in radar and surveillance systems, weapons guidance systems and detonation triggers [...]" I thought most of this stuff is meanwhile produced in China, and sent to the US ? http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/05/2...-military-chip http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-...hut-off-2011-6 Although a lot of chips used in the US military is indeed produced in China, i guess the "disarming" capabality is nonsense, apart of rendering the devices itself useless because of sheer failing of some of the chinese chips. Thanks and greetings, Catfish

10-06-12, 03:07 PM	#11
kraznyi_oktjabr Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Republiken Finland Posts: 1,803 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Nice. China and Russia get American technology as they use "creative" methods to obtain it. At same time U.S. ally Canada has troubles in obtaining it legally because of ITAR rules. As consequence the Royal Canadian Navy is updating its vessels with as much ITAR-free equipment as possible. __________________ You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. - Dr. House