Gal Haimovich, 49, pleaded guilty on Monday to violating sanctions on Russian companies, including by smuggling airplane parts, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
“As part of his plea agreement, Haimovich admitted that his scheme involved deceiving U.S. companies about the true destination of the goods at issue and that the defendant and others attempted to conceal the scheme by submitting false information in export documents filed with the U.S. government,” the department said.
“Between at least March 2022 and May 2023, Haimovich facilitated the export of aircraft parts and avionics, including those with missile technology applications, from the United States, through the Southern District of Florida, to various third-party transhippers on behalf of Russian customers,” it added. “These Russian end customers routinely instructed Haimovich to deceive the U.S.-based manufacturers and suppliers about the ultimate destination of the goods.”
The Israeli man is slated to be sentenced on Nov. 22.
As part of the plea deal, Haimovich agreed to forfeit more than $2 million that he charged in fees.
