Kansas Businessman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Avionics Sales to Russia, Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison

A Kansas businessman, Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 60, is facing a prison sentence of up to 25 years after pleading guilty to the illegal sale and export of aviation-related equipment to Russia. The illegal activities spanned from 2020 through March 2023, continuing even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Buyanovsky, owner and president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., is scheduled for sentencing on March 21.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Buyanovsky admitted to exporting “sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment” to Russian customers without the necessary licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce. This act was in violation of sanctions imposed on Russia. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally launder money.

His confession detailed a conspiracy with others, including co-defendant Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, former vice president of KanRus, to smuggle U.S.-origin avionics equipment to Russian end users and others in different countries. Robertson has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Buyanovsky’s illegal operations included falsifying export forms submitted to the U.S. government, underreporting the value of exports, and lying about their final destinations. Notably, in 2021, he and Robertson reportedly smuggled a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to the U.S. for repairs by concealing its true origin and then returning it to Russia.

Despite increased U.S. export controls following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Buyanovsky and his co-conspirators continued their illicit activities. They employed various tactics to evade detection, such as using intermediaries in countries like Armenia, the United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus, and funneling money through bank accounts in several countries to receive payments from Russian customers.

The charges against Buyanovsky carry a maximum sentence of 20 years for money laundering and an additional five years for conspiracy. This case underscores the U.S. government’s strict enforcement of export controls and sanctions, particularly in the context of sensitive technology and equipment like avionics.