The Defendant Evaded U.S. Export Laws by Mislabeling and Undervaluing Weapons Parts and Accessories
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Maxim Larin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act and attempting to violate the Arms Export Control Act in connection with his shipment of weapons parts and accessories to Kazakhstan. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison. When sentenced, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment. As part of his plea, the defendant agreed to forfeit $250,000 and dozens of weapons parts and accessories seized from his residence. Larin was arrested in Florida in August 2025.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); and David Peters, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Bureau of Industry and Security, New York Field Office, announced the guilty plea.
“Motivated by greed, the defendant placed his own self-interest above the safety and security of our country and its allies by shipping export-controlled weapons parts to a volatile area of the world,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s guilty plea should serve as a warning to all who seek to evade our nation’s export regulations for their own gain and for the benefit of our adversaries. Our Office and our law enforcement partners will vigorously investigate, prosecute, and hold to account those who compromise our national security.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, HSI’s Miami Field Office, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their valuable assistance.
“Maxim Larin knowingly weaponized his businesses to smuggle restricted firearms components and tactical equipment through a web of lies, false labels and undervalued shipments,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas. “This was a deliberate scheme to evade U.S. export laws and feed an illicit weapons pipeline connected to Russia’s war machine. His guilty plea makes clear that those who put profit over national security, disguise contraband as harmless goods and help arm hostile foreign networks will be exposed, prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Together with our partners, HSI New York will continue to leverage our specialized authorities and global investigative reach to hold accountable those who attempt to undermine U.S. export controls and endanger national security.”
“Today's guilty plea highlights the Office of Export Enforcement's unwavering dedication to enforcing America's export control laws and holding accountable those who seek to evade them,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Peters.
According to court documents, Larin is the owner of several U.S. based companies which deal in weapons parts and sensitive firearms accessories. Larin used his businesses to sell export-controlled weapons parts and accessories to his co-defendant based in Russia. The items Larin shipped to Kazakhstan were on the Commerce Control List (“CCL”) and designated as export restricted because their reshipment could be detrimental to U.S. foreign policy or national security.
As early as December 2022, Larin agreed with his Russia-based co-defendant to undervalue and mislabel the contents of the packages he was exporting. When asked by his co-defendant to falsely label the contents of a specific parcel, Larin replied “we can do that.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection records show the package was mislabeled and the value of its contents was listed as thousands of dollars less than its actual value. Larin also flagged for his co-defendant that certain items could be seized by U.S. authorities and suggested that items be repackaged to make them less conspicuous.
In approximately May 2023, Larin agreed with his co-defendant to ship semi-automatic enhanced triggers, hi-speed triggers, and charging handles to Kazakhstan. These items, which enhance the performance of firearms, were all included on the CCL and their export to Kazakhstan was prohibited. Larin suggested the items could be seized by U.S. authorities and agreed to falsely declare the contents of the package and its value. Rather than state that the parcel contained firearms parts, Larin listed its contents as a “light switch.”
In December 2023, Larin agreed to acquire a Raptar target acquisition device for his co-defendant. The Raptar is a firearms accessory which helps users acquire targets at long ranges. Given its obvious military application, the Raptar is included on the United States Munitions List, a list of items which cannot be exported from the United States without the approval of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, a unit within the U.S. Department of State. Larin obtained the Raptar device from another company and signed an agreement which specified that the item could not be shipped internationally. Although he knew about this prohibition, Larin shipped the Raptar to a co-conspirator in the United States who attempted to ship it to Kazakhstan in violation of U.S. export laws. The device was intercepted and seized by HSI in California.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.
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