COLUMBUS, OH - A shadowy international scheme to illegally export U.S. aircraft parts to Russia has landed a West Chester, Ohio-based company and three of its employees in federal court, accused of violating U.S. export laws and laundering money to sidestep sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Flighttime Enterprises Inc., an American subsidiary of a Russian aircraft parts supplier, allegedly misled U.S. regulators, falsified shipping records, and concealed Russian end-users through intermediaries to smuggle aviation components into the country—despite strict U.S. sanctions meant to cut off Moscow’s access to Western technology.
The federal indictment unsealed this week names three individuals at the center of the scheme:
- Daniela Friery, 43, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Loveland, Ohio.
- Pavil Iglin, 46, a Russian citizen living in Florida on a non-immigrant visa.
- Marat Aysin, 39, a U.S. permanent resident also residing in Florida.
All three are accused of conspiring to illegally export controlled aircraft components, including an auxiliary power unit worth $395,000, which was allegedly sent to a sanctioned Russian airline under false pretenses.
The charges come amid escalating efforts by U.S. authorities to crack down on sanctions evasion, particularly in the aviation sector, as Russian airlines face crippling shortages of replacement parts due to post-invasion trade restrictions.
Inside the Alleged Smuggling Operation
Federal investigators say the illegal exports began in 2022, shortly after the U.S. and its allies imposed strict trade controls in response to Russia’s expanded invasion of Ukraine.
According to court documents, Flighttime Enterprises and its employees knowingly circumvented U.S. restrictions by:
- Mislabelling shipments to conceal Russian destinations.
- Providing false export certifications to U.S. suppliers.
- Using intermediary companies and countries to obscure the final recipients.
One of the most damning transactions, prosecutors say, took place in June 2022 when Flighttime employees purchased an auxiliary power unit from a U.S. supplier for nearly $400,000.
The supplier initially hesitated to complete the sale due to concerns over the company’s Russian ties. To ease suspicions, prosecutors allege Aysin falsely claimed the part was for domestic inventory in West Chester, Ohio—a lie designed to disguise its true destination.
Meanwhile, Iglin allegedly signed a fraudulent end-user certificate, falsely certifying to the supplier that the part would not be sent to Russia. Despite these assurances, federal investigators say the unit was secretly rerouted to a Russian airline—a direct violation of U.S. export controls.
The Charges: Decades in Prison at Stake
The 11-count indictment accuses Flighttime Enterprises and its employees of:
- Conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA)
- Punishable by up to 20 years in prison
- Multiple counts of violating the ECRA
- Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years
- Conspiracy to commit smuggling
- Carries a maximum sentence of five years
- Multiple counts of smuggling
- Each count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison
- Conspiracy to launder money
- Carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison
If convicted on all charges, the defendants could face decades behind bars.
U.S. Authorities Crack Down on Sanctions Evasion
The case was announced by high-ranking federal officials, including:
- Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
- U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio.
- Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office.
- Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Levine of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
The FBI and BIS are leading the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is handling the prosecution, with support from the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
This indictment comes as the U.S. government intensifies efforts to target companies and individuals skirting sanctions to prop up Russia’s struggling aviation sector. Western sanctions have cut off Russia’s access to new aircraft, replacement parts, and technical support, leading to concerns about safety issues and the long-term sustainability of the country’s commercial aviation industry.
Federal authorities warn that violators of U.S. export laws face severe consequences, as the government continues its pursuit of individuals and companies aiding Russia’s war economy.
Ohio at the Center of an International Sanctions Scheme
For many, the case highlights Ohio’s unexpected role in an international criminal conspiracy. Flighttime Enterprises’ West Chester office served as a key hub in the alleged scheme, raising questions about oversight and corporate accountability for U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign companies.
As the legal battle unfolds, the indictment paints a picture of a company and its employees knowingly skirting the law to keep Russian planes in the air—despite the sweeping sanctions meant to ground them.
With millions of dollars at stake, international sanctions on the line, and federal prosecutors sharpening their focus, this case may only be the beginning of a broader crackdown on American companies with ties to Russian industries.
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