Most folks think of Etsy as a place to buy cute crafts, candles, or maybe a homemade nightlight.
But for one guy in Merrimack, New Hampshire, it was a front for something way darker: smuggling high-tech gear to Russia.
Yep, you read that right. He was helping Moscow get its hands on sensitive U.S. electronics that can be used in things like nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, and even quantum computing.
The “Crafter” Dad
Alexey Brayman, 38, was arrested back in 2022. Neighbors thought he was just another guy working from home with his wife, running a small craft shop.
But court records show he was taking in shipments, repacking them, and sending them off to help Russia’s military.
He eventually pleaded guilty last year. So what was his punishment?
Not prison. Just two years of probation, 50 hours of community service, a $10,000 fine, and the loss of about $6,000 more. Oh, and he has to work with immigration officials too. That’s it.
Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Vadim Yermolenko, didn’t get off so easy. He was sentenced this month to 30 months in federal prison.
Prosecutors say Yermolenko laundered more than $12 million through shell companies and tried to ship thousands of rounds of American sniper ammunition out of the country.
Thankfully, those rounds were stopped in Estonia before they reached Russian hands. As IRS investigator Harry Chavis put it, Yermolenko’s greed “created a potential threat to our national security.”
So let’s sum this up: one guy ran the shipping hub out of his house and walked with probation. The money man got prison time.
Soft on Spies, Tough on Citizens
This isn’t just some East Coast story. It matters everywhere – including here in Nevada.
Think about it: Nevada is working hard to grow industries like semiconductors and advanced batteries.
If U.S. technology keeps leaking overseas, it hurts our national security and our local economy. It’s our workers and businesses who get undercut when countries like Russia or China steal a shortcut.
On top of that, when Americans see a guy caught smuggling spy gear get probation, it reinforces that sense that the system’s upside down.
The Russian Connection
Brayman and Yermolenko were both part of a shadowy network tied to two Russian fronts, Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC.
They used shell companies all over the world to disguise what they were really doing: buying U.S. military tech for the Kremlin.
Another key player was Vadim Konoshchenok, caught in Estonia with bags of ammunition. He was extradited to the U.S. in 2023 but later swapped back to Russia in a Biden administration prisoner trade.
In exchange, America got journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine Paul Whelan, who had been wrongly jailed by Putin’s regime.
Critics say that deal just teaches Moscow to grab more hostages, knowing they can trade them later.
Do We Want Leaders Who Protect Us or Our Enemies?
At the end of the day, here’s what bugs a lot of people: if you skip paperwork with the IRS, the government can ruin your life.
But if you help Russia’s spy network? You might walk away with probation.
That doesn’t sit right. And it’s something voters should keep in mind as we head into another election season.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
