Month: November 2023

Three people, two of them Russian-Canadians and one dual citizen of Russia and Tajikistan, were arrested in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Tuesday for attempting to circumvent US sanctions by shipping dual-use electronic components intended for military use by Moscow in its war against Ukraine, AFP reported.

Nikolay Golstev, 37, his wife Kristina Puzyreva, 32, and Russian-Tajik citizen Salimdzhon Nariddinov, 52, were arrested for sending “over 300 shipments of restricted items, valued at approximately $10 million, to the Russian battlefield,” said Ivan Arvelo, a special agent with the US Department of Homeland Security. The shipments took place over the course of a year, AFP noted.

The dual-use components sent to Russia by the Brooklyn-based outfit were found in recovered Russian missile systems, drones, tanks and helicopters, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said. In addition, federal prosecutors were able to seize more than a million dollars in proceeds from the illegal operation.

“These entities unlawfully sourced, purchased and shipped millions of dollars in dual-use electronics from US manufacturers to sanctioned end users in Russia,” read the DOJ statement announcing the charges. “The defendants were aware that the electronics being exported had potential military applications.” The DOJ further alleged that the plot was “a global procurement scheme on behalf of sanctioned Russian entities, including companies affiliated with the Russian military.”

Despite having low tax rates, Ukraine has earned fourth place in the 1841 Foundation’s new “tax hell” ranking as opposed to Russia’s ninth place — based on 2021 data.

Brooklyn is home to a large population of Russian émigrés and is also notorious for its concentration of Russian mafia actors.

John Moretti

John Moretti is a freelance journalist and author dividing his time between Europe and the United States. He has also spent more than a decade working with companies that protect travelers from health and security emergencies abroad. His academic background is in Eastern European Studies, international public policy and counterterrorism.

The Brooklyn man accused of killing two neighbors over a noise complaint on Sunday night was shot by law enforcement agents Wednesday morning during a standoff,  sources reported.

Jason Pass, 47, was rushed to a local hospital; his condition is not yet known.

Authorities said Pass barricaded himself inside a residence on Bay 44th Street in Bath Beach when NYPD officers and U.S. Marshals attempted to arrest him in connection with the Oct. 29 double homicide in East Flatbush.

The exact nature of Pass’ injuries were not disclosed. Sources familiar with the investigation said he was found to have a knife in his possession.

Jason Pass, 47, was wanted for allegedly executing his neighbors over a noise complaint and has been shot in a Brooklyn standoff.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell A backpack could be observed at the scene.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Police have been on a manhunt for Pass since Sunday when he allegedly shot and killed 47-year-old Bladimy Mathurin and 27-year-old stepson Mode Chinwai inside an apartment building on Brooklyn Avenue.

Both victims were shot in the head and torso.

Police say Pass lived below his victims and had an ongoing feud with them due to loud footsteps coming from above.

“Based on our investigation we found that there were six previous 311 calls,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny explained Tuesday. “The perpetrator confronts the family members [and] they get into a physical altercation in the hallway where the two victims are subsequently shot.”

This is a developing story; check with amNY.com later for further updates.