US Arrests Laser Technology Salesman for Illegal Exports to Russia, Reports Reuters

By Nate Raymond

BOSTON – A former salesman for a manufacturer of laser welding machines was arrested on Monday, facing charges of conspiring to evade U.S. export control laws to sell his company’s products to a division of the Russian state nuclear company, Rosatom.

Sam Bhambhani is accused, in an indictment, of collaborating with a Russian citizen who resold laser equipment to the Russian government. The allegations state that they utilized falsified export documents to hide the actual end-user of the machines from U.S. authorities.

Bhambhani, who lives in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was released on a personal recognizance bond after pleading not guilty to conspiracy and smuggling charges during a court appearance in Boston. His defense attorney did not provide a comment when approached.

The indictment details that Bhambhani worked as a salesman for a global supplier of laser equipment, which is employed for various applications such as welding, marking, cutting, engraving, and motion systems, with operations based in Rhode Island and Florida.

From 2015 to 2021, the equipment was reportedly sold to a subsidiary of Rosatom in Yekaterinburg, Russia, involved in producing components for nuclear munitions and other civilian goods.

According to the charging documents, Bhambhani occasionally discussed with the accused reseller, Maxim Teslenko, the necessity of circumventing U.S. export controls to facilitate sales. In a 2020 communication, he remarked, “Also, we will have to figure out the shipment and invoicing as now there are too many controls put on export to Russia. Politics!”

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. government has further tightened restrictions on the export of items that could be utilized by Russia in its defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors.

Teslenko has also been charged in the indictment; he resides in Moscow and is not currently in U.S. custody, according to court records. A defense attorney for Teslenko could not be identified.