US-Israeli-Russian Businessman Arrested for Illegally Exporting Sensitive Tech to Russia

Ilya Kahn Allegedly Used His Companies to Export Technology to Sanctioned Russian Business Tied to Military and Intelligence Agencies

Ilya Kahn, a 66-year-old businessman with citizenship in the US, Israel, and Russia, has been arrested in the US for allegedly exporting sensitive technology to a Russian business tied to the country's military and intelligence agencies.
Kahn is accused of using his companies, Senesys Incorporated and Sensor Design Association, to acquire and export sensitive electronic devices from the US to the Russian business, Joint Stock Company Research and Development Center ELVEES (Elvees), without obtaining the necessary licenses.
Elvees, which was added to the US Commerce Department's Entity List in March 2022 and sanctioned by the Treasury Department in September 2022, is believed to have facilitated Russia's military and its invasion of Ukraine.
Kahn allegedly arranged for Elvees to continue receiving semiconductors manufactured in Taiwan following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, by having the chips sent first to the US, then re-exported to Russia through a shipping company based at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
If convicted, Kahn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).