Anna Fermanova Tried to Smuggle High Tech Devices, Say Feds

By: Naimah Jabali-Nash
Topics: Daily Blotter

Anna Fermanova (Personal Photo)

NEW YORK (CBS) Good-bye, Anna Chapman; hello, Anna Fermanova.

Fermanova, 24, is the newest bombshell targeted by federal authorities. She is accused of attempting to smuggle high-tech night vision scopes from the United States to Russia.

PICTURES: Anna Fermanova Accused of Smuggling

An arrest affidavit obtained by Crimesider states that Fermanova, along with others, tried to "intentionally attempt to export" defense articles listed on the United States Munitions List without having the required license to do so.

The document says that when Fermanova attempted to board a plane at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport bound for Moscow on March 1, Customs & Border Protection seized her luggage, finding three night vision devices.

When Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents approached Fermanova regarding the cutting-edge devices, she claimed that she purchased the scopes online, stated the affidavit.

The scopes reportedly cost approximately $15,000 total, according to The Smoking Gun.

When ICE agents further questioned Fermanova, asking if she was aware of the regulations regarding such items she claimed that she "signed something about that," but was "not really sure what she was signing."

According to ICE special agent David Mondanaro, one of the devices found in Fermanova's luggage was a Raptor 4X, which is considered a "generation 3" night vision device that allows the user to locate a target in "low light conditions." The Raptor 4X is engineered to be attached to a rifle, stated the affidavit.

Though Fermanova claimed she was unaware of such guidelines, the devices appeared to have "no visible identification stickers or markings" and several ID numbers "had been covered with black marker pen," indicated Mondanaro.

The agents confiscated the three devices, but allowed Fermanova to board her scheduled flight, according to the affidavit. She returned to the U.S. and was arrested July 15 on a warrant signed by a federal magistrate in Brooklyn.

Scott Palmer, Fermanova's lawyer, said the allegations were "really silly," and claimed that Fermanova's husband simply intended to resell the night vision scopes, possibly to hunters, according to The Smoking Gun.

The Smoking Gun reports that Fermanova divides her time between Russia and Texas, where her parents reside. Her Facebook page states that Fermanova graduated from Ogle School of Hair Skin and Nails in 2005. She reportedly has a cosmetology license that expires next August.

According to the Daily News, Fermanova is currently under house arrest.

32 Photos

Anna Fermanova Accused of Smuggling

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by thesevenveils July 28, 2010 2:58 PM EDT: Put this in perspective:
Any diplomat could buy these items and then fly them out of the country in a diplomatic pouch.

The concern i believe is to not have these types of equipment land in the hands of a terrorist organization. Innocently enough her husband could sell them to hunters. But then there are very few "hunters" that can afford a five thousand dollar scope and fewer still that have a legitimate use for them. So these scopes could be sold in Russia, land in the hands of Muslim extremists and find their way to a battle field adorning a very nice sniper rifle.

But we would never know unless one of these scopes were captured after a battle.

Call this lady a spy is absurd. Arresting her as she returned to the US is a case of the FBI gone Wild.; Reply to this comment


by kenhamlett July 28, 2010 12:59 PM EDT: Pardon me but I can buy similar items at better prices all day long. This charge is a little lame because the Russian equivalents are possibly better so what is the big crime? Bear in mind that I hate to see our strategic technology going anywhere but a charge such as this diminishes the perceived severity of the "crime". The USA had no problem with Israel stealing microwave technology years ago and it was important both commercially and strategically. So what is this minor infraction doing in the news? If the Russians copy the design the only thing that will happen is that their own night optics program would be set back.; Reply to this comment


by xmissile July 28, 2010 12:49 PM EDT: You should check out her bikini pic. Pretty sweet.; Reply to this comment


by irreverent1-2009 July 28, 2010 12:41 PM EDT: What's so high tech about it? Generation 3 has been around for quite awhile and I believe that just about anyone can go out and buy one if they want to. If it's such a national security threat they should'nt be selling them to begin with. Right, NRA?; Reply to this comment


by jwbb July 28, 2010 11:35 AM EDT: These so called spy cases are weak and conspicuous. Our illustrious government is just playing us again by putting the masses in an anti Russian mode. The United States must be getting ready to invade a country that is Russian backed. Reminds me of the "weapons of mass destruction" BS!; Reply to this comment


by jjoe57 July 28, 2010 9:30 AM EDT: Ah-hah! Three night-vision scopes to the Russian military. So that means three Russian commandos plan overt raid on Pentagon! News at 10.; Reply to this comment


by magnumdr July 28, 2010 3:58 AM EDT: Could sombody please tell me what the he-- is a bombshell. What a stupid thing to say!; Reply to this comment


by sae24 July 28, 2010 2:06 AM EDT: Most of you are so limited (stupid), that can not understand that there is no real spy, not bear the information through the customs control. This could be done only _blonde_.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 July 27, 2010 10:58 PM EDT: Good-looking people are automatically trusted more than plain people. Makes sense that they would send attractive women.; Reply to this comment


by voxpopulus July 27, 2010 7:43 PM EDT: Silliness. Do you have ANY idea how many unchecked parcels are POSTED out of the US every day?; Reply to this comment