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Federal prosecutors charged Andrew Pogosyan, a 68-year-old
Russian-born U.S. citizen who lives in Madison, in June in a
four-count information with conspiracy to defraud the United
States and smuggling goods out of the country.
According to the information, Pogosyan started using his
company, Omega Diagnostics LLC, in September 2022 to ship lab
equipment to Russian companies, including one that that
performed chemical research for the Russian military.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and
Security imposed sanctions in February 2022 on exports to Russia
in response to the Ukrainian invasion. The sanctions require
exporter to obtain special licenses to ship technology and goods
to Russia, particularly products that could help Russia produce
chemical and biological weapons.
According to prosecutors, Pogosyan did not obtain a license and
tried to conceal his exports' ultimate destination by sending
them to third-party countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkey, Latvia, and Lithuania. The products were then forwarded
on to the Russian companies.
Pogosyan faces up to 35 years in prison when he's sentenced Oct.
7. His attorney, William Coffield, said in an email to The
Associated Press on Monday afternoon that Pogosyan is a good
person and didn't appreciate the seriousness of the sanctions.
He added that Pogosyan's customers were scientists working on
medical and other non-military research.
“He has accepted responsibility," Coffield said, “and is working
to make amends.”
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