Freight company president indicted for smuggling goods to russia

BOSTON, MA – The President of a freight forwarding company has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a license, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Kirill Gordei, 34, faces charges of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, smuggling goods from the United States, and exporting a spectrometer listed as a commerce control item. Gordei was arrested on June 30 in Florida and released on conditions following an initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Gordei, a citizen of Belarus and the United States residing in Hallandale, Fla., is the President of Apelsin Logistics, a freight forwarding company based in Hallandale Beach, Fla., with an address and websites in Russia.

According to the indictment, on August 11, 2023, Gordei allegedly misrepresented the destination of an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer, claiming it was bound for Uzbekistan when it was actually intended for Russia. This device, valued at over $600,000, is on the Controlled Commerce List and requires a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security for export to Russia. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, stringent export controls have been implemented to limit Russia’s access to critical technologies.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized the importance of enforcing export controls to protect national security. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen stated that Gordei’s actions prioritized personal profit over national security. Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod highlighted the crucial role of freight forwarders in upholding export laws, accusing Gordei of willfully evading restrictions designed to weaken the Russian war effort.

The charge of Export of Commerce Control Items carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Smuggling goods from the United States can result in up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.

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