Alexey Brayman charged with using Merrimack, New Hampshire home in Russian smuggling ring
BOSTON - A man from Merrimack, New Hampshire is accused of using his home as part of a Russian smuggling ring.
Alexey Brayman was one of seven people charged in a federal indictment out of New York that accuses them of buying and shipping "millions of dollars in military and sensitive dual-use technologies from U.S. manufacturers and vendors" and illegally sending them into Russia since at least 2017.
Federal prosecutors said the items include "advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment used in quantum computing, hypersonic and nuclear weapons development and other military and space-based military applications."
Brayman surrendered to federal authorities on Tuesday.
Prosecutors wanted him held on $250,000 bail and to surrender his passport. A federal judge allowed Brayman to go home Tuesday night with a location monitoring device. He is due back in court in New York in February.
Investigators say Brayman and the others were working with the "Serniya Network," which was allegedly run by Russia's intelligence services to smuggle sensitive military information and technology.
According to the indictment, Brayman "repeatedly used the New Hampshire Residence as a transshipment point for repackaging sensitive military-grade (sic) and export-controlled items and forwarding them to intermediate locations in Europe and Asia, from where they were transshipped to Russia."
"The charged offenses are extremely serious. The defendants are charged with participating in a transnational fraud, money laundering and sanctions evasion scheme controlled by a foreign power that is actively engaged in armed conflict," U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a court document filed Tuesday in New York.
"At this stage Mr. Brayman has only been charged, he has not been convicted of anything. Like all defendants, Mr. Brayman is entitled to the presumption of innocence," David Lazarus, his attorney, said in a statement Tuesday, according to CBS News.
"I'm stunned," said neighbor Ken Howard. "Blending into this neighborhood isn't hard. You stay in the house, you know," he said, explaining that Brayman and his wife kept to themselves.
A woman was seen leaving the Brayman's home, putting packed bags into an SUV, and leaving with a baby. She did not answer questions about Alexey Brayman.
Brayman and his wife run a crafting company together.
"It's crazy. You just never know who's in your neighborhood and what they're doing behind closed doors," said neighbor Mike Benoit. "I mean pretty normal house. You can see they put their lawn ornaments out to decorate."
