An ex-military member of the United States residing in Corona has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to unlawfully export thermal imaging riflescopes, night vision goggles, and other defense items to Russia without the necessary license, which is a violation of federal law.
Igor Panchernikov, aged 41, previously serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr., as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In March, Panchernikov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act. Since July 2022, he has been in federal custody after being extradited from Israel to the United States.
Between December 2016 and May 2018, Panchernikov conspired with others to knowingly export defense articles from the U.S. to Russia without obtaining the required license or approval from the State Department.
According to federal prosecutors, Panchernikov’s accomplices purchased the defense articles, including thermal riflescopes, weapon sights, monoculars, and night vision goggles, from various online sellers in the U.S. These items were then shipped to Panchernikov’s residence in Riverside County.
Upon receiving the items, Panchernikov mailed two of them to accomplices in Russia using fake sender names. Additionally, he sent 17 defense articles to Elena Shifrin, aged 61, residing in Mundelein, Illinois, who subsequently mailed them to Russia.
Shifrin pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one federal count of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for the upcoming months.
Vladimir Pridacha, aged 58 from Volo, Illinois, has entered a plea of not guilty to the criminal charges in this case. His trial is set for August 29.
Two other defendants, Boris Polosin from Russia and Vladimir Gohman from Israel, are currently fugitives, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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