LOS ANGELES
A former member of the U.S. military was sentenced Friday to 27 months in federal prison for conspiring to unlawfully export to Russia defense articles – including thermal imaging riflescopes and night vision goggles – without a license in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, officials stated.
U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. sentenced Igor Panchernikov, 41, a former Corona resident who once served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
Panchernikov pleaded guilty on March 24 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act. He has been in federal custody since July 2022 after Israel extradited him to the United States.
From December 2016 to May 2018, Panchernikov conspired with other individuals to knowingly export from the U.S. to Russia defense articles without obtaining a valid license or other approval for such exports from the State Department.
Panchernikov’s accomplices purchased defense articles – including thermal riflescopes, weapons sights, monoculars, and night vision goggles – from various online sellers located in the United States. They directed the sellers to mail those items to Panchernikov’s residence in Corona.
Panchernikov received at least 19 defense articles that his co-conspirators purchased from online sellers at his Corona residence.
After receiving these items, Panchernikov inspected the items to ensure that they were undamaged and operational.
Following his co-conspirators’ instructions, Panchernikov mailed two items to accomplices in Russia. He then mailed 17 defense articles to Elena Shifrin, 61, of Mundelein, Illinois, who then mailed these items to Russia.
To conceal his unlawful activities, when Panchernikov exported the two defense articles to Russia, he listed fictitious sender names on the packages containing the items.
He also falsely identified the items in the packages as non-export-controlled items, such as clothing. Finally, he concealed the defense articles in other items, including a drill press.
Shifrin pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act. Her sentencing hearing is expected in the coming months.
Vladimir Pridacha, 58, of Volo, Illinois, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in this case and has a scheduled August 29 trial date.
Two other defendants charged in this case – Boris Polosin, of Russia, and Vladimir Gohman, of Israel – are fugitives. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The FBI’s Los Angeles and Chicago field offices investigated this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Ryan, Chief of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, and Wilson Park of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.