American detained on suspicion of selling laser welding equipment to Rosatom

A salesman for a laser welding machine manufacturer has been arrested in the United States. The indictment states that the man allegedly sold the equipment to russia in violation of export control laws.

The court claims that Sam Bhambhani, a United States citizen, collaborated with Maxim Teslenko, a russian citizen.

Bhambhani previously worked as a salesman for a global supplier of laser equipment used for welding, marking, cutting, deep engraving, and motion systems. 

Bhambhani and Teslenko used falsified export documents to conceal the true end user of the equipment from the U.S. government. Thus, in 2015-2021, Bhambhani resold the laser equipment to the Russian state nuclear company Rosatom. Namely, to a subsidiary of Rosatom in Yekaterinburg, which produces components for nuclear munitions and non-military goods.

The district court also charged the second defendant in the case, Maxim Teslenko. But he, according to court materials, lives in Moscow.

Source: Reuters