National Security News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys

You are subscribed to National Security news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Arms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export American Made Ammunition Used in War Against Ukraine 03/30/2026 08:00 AM EDT Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Italian national Manfred Gruber pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export control violations.  Gruber illegally exported ammunition worth over $540,000 from the United States to Kyrgyzstan, via companies that the defendant and his co-conspirator controlled in Italy.  After reaching Kyrgyzstan, most of this ammunition was subsequently reexported to Russia.  Today's proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl. In January 2026, Sergei Zharnovnikov, a Kyrgyzstan-based co-conspirator of the defendant, was sentenced to 39 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to violating the Export Control Reform Act. Arms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export American-Made Ammunition Used in War Against Ukraine 03/30/2026 08:00 AM EDT Italian national Manfred Gruber pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export control violations. Gruber illegally exported ammunition worth over $540,000 from the United States to Kyrgyzstan, via companies that the defendant and his co-conspirator controlled in Italy. After reaching Kyrgyzstan, most of this ammunition was subsequently reexported to Russia. Today's proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl for the Eastern District of New York. In January 2026, Sergei Zharnovnikov, a Kyrgyzstan-based co-conspirator of the defendant, was sentenced to 39 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to violating the Export Control Reform Act.

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