Man charged with allegedly conspiring to export plane parts from Oregon to Russia

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A man faces federal charges for allegedly trying to export aerospace equipment from Oregon to Russia, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced.

On November 20, fifty-seven-year-old Sanjay Kaushik of Delhi, India, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland on several charges, including conspiring and attempting to export controlled aircraft components and a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, in violation of the export control reform, the authorities said. Kaushik is also accused of making false declarations in connection with exports.

The incident began in September 2023, when Kaushik allegedly conspired with others to illegally obtain aerospace technology from the United States for “entities in Russia,” authorities said.

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The U.S. attorney’s office said the aerospace parts were purchased under the false pretense that they would be delivered to Kaushik for his company in India, when in fact they were intended for Russia.

In one case, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an attitude and heading reference system – a device that provides navigation data and flight controls for an aircraft – from an Oregon supplier.

These components require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia, officials explained.

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To obtain an export license, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that the ultimate buyer was his company and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter.

Once the AHRS component was obtained, the device was ultimately stopped from being exported from the United States, authorities said.

Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida on October 17, 2024, on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.

Kaushik made his first appearance in federal court in Oregon on November 22, where he pleaded not guilty. He was ordered detained pending a seven-day jury trial, which is scheduled to begin on January 21, 2025.

If convicted, Kaushik faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for each count in the indictment.

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