Sanjay Kaushik is a 58-year-old businessman from Delhi who has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison in the United States. He was punished for taking part in a plan to illegally send sensitive aviation equipment from the US to Russia.
Earlier this week, a federal court sentenced Kaushik to 30 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. The court found that he conspired with others to export controlled aviation components and a navigation and flight control system to Russian end users. Scott E. Bradford, the US Attorney for the District of Oregon, said Kaushik’s actions were deliberate and driven by profit.
“It was a calculated, profit-driven scheme involving repeated transactions, substantial gains, and coordination with foreign co-conspirators, including sanctioned Russian entities. This defendant sought, on multiple occasions, to undermine safeguards critical to US national security and foreign policy for his own personal gain,” he said.
Why was this considered a serious crime?
The case involved the illegal export of aviation technology that has dual use, meaning it can be used for both civilian and military purposes. US authorities say such technology can threaten national security if it reaches banned or sanctioned countries.
John A. Eisenberg Assistant Attorney General for National Security, warned that the US would act strongly in such cases. “Those who scheme to circumvent US export control laws – especially when it involves technologies with military applications – will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. He added, “The security of the United States demands that perpetrators of deceitful schemes like this one are held accountable for their actions.”
How did the illegal export plan work?
According to court documents, the conspiracy began in early September 2023. Kaushik and others worked together to secretly buy aerospace goods and technology from the United States for Russian entities.They bought the items by claiming they were meant for Kaushik and his Indian company. In reality, the equipment was meant to be sent to Russian end users, the United States Department of Justice said.
One of the key items was an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS). This device helps aircraft know their position and direction and provides important navigation and flight control data. Under US law, exporting components like the AHRS to certain countries, including Russia, requires a special licence from the Department of Commerce.
To try to get this licence, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that his Indian company was the final buyer and that the equipment would be used in a civilian helicopter.Although they managed to obtain the AHRS, U.S. authorities stopped it before it could be exported.
When and where was Kaushik arrested?
Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida, on October 17, 2024, following a criminal complaint and arrest warrant. He has remained in custody since then. In November 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland charged him with conspiracy, attempted illegal export, and making false statements related to the export. In October 2025, Kaushik pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. He admitted that he had tried to sell export-controlled aviation components with both civilian and military uses to Russian end users.
The sentencing was announced by US officials including Scott E. Bradford and John A. Eisenberg, along with senior officers from the Department of Commerce. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Industry and Security in Portland, with help from Homeland Security Investigations and US Customs and Border Protection. The case was prosecuted by federal attorneys from Oregon and the National Security Division of the US Justice Department.