The Federal Court of the Eastern District of New York (UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT – EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK) opened a criminal case against 59-year-old Greek businessman Nikolaos Bogonicoloou. (Nikolaos Bogonikolos), who are accused by US authorities of conspiracy/fraud and smuggling.

Bogonikolos, who has Greek citizenship, was arrested in Paris on May 9 and is in custody pending extradition to the United States, according to a related official statement.

In particular, the 59-year-old Greek businessman and company owner Aratos Groupwhich seems to have offices in Athens, accused of helping the Russian military to bypass/circumvent US sanctions.

“Ostensibly acting as a defense contractor for NATO and allied countries, the Defendant and the Aratos group played a double game (“…the Defendant and its Aratos group played a double game”), strengthening the Russian military effort and developing the following: generations of weapons ( sponsor of Moscow)”US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace said.

“Bogonikolos colluded with a network of companies organized by Russian intelligence agencies to acquire and then smuggle US-made dual-use military technology to assist Russia’s defense and security sectors. Bogonicolos has procured sensitive NATO-compatible equipment for the battlefield, as well as components used in space and cryptographic communications, on behalf of Russian managers seeking to improve their country’s combat capabilities.“, – said the responsible deputy director of the FBI Michael Driscoll.

Bogonikolos is accused of being recruited/hired by Russia as a procurement agent 2017.

On December 27, 2017, he allegedly received an email from an employee of a Russian company. Sernia inviting him to come to Moscow “alone” because the agenda for the talks he would have there would be “very delicate.”

Nikolaos Bogonikolos has been accused of smuggling U.S. military and dual-use technology into Russia since 2017 in violation of U.S. law.

As stated in the related official statement, these were components and sensitive advanced advanced technologies used in tactical battlefields, applications of quantum cryptography and nuclear weapons testing. The defendant claimed that these items were to be used by his company Aratos, although in fact they were in Russia illegally.

Russian companies such as Sernia And Sertalare presented as the ultimate recipients of US-made components and technology traded by the 59-year-old Greek businessman, while the Russian intelligence services (SVR) are also said to have benefited from said smuggling.