Intertech Trading Corp. Sentenced to Pay $140,000 on 14 Felony Counts of Failure to File Export Information on Shipments of Lab Equipment to Russia and Ukraine

            CONCORD – Intertech Trading Corporation, an Atkinson, New Hampshire-based laboratory equipment distributor, was sentenced today in federal court after pleading guilty to 14 felony counts of failure to file export information on shipments to Russia and Ukraine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced. Judge Paul Barbadoro ordered that Intertech pay the maximum allowable fine of $10,000 per count, for a total of $140,000, and be subject to a two-year term of corporate probation and monitoring.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2015 and 2019, Intertech exported laboratory equipment to Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere, falsely describing the nature and value of the exported items on commercial invoices and shipping forms. In its plea agreement, Intertech admitted that it used false, innocuous descriptions such as “lamp for aquarium” or “spares for welding system,” rather than accurately identifying the sophisticated scientific equipment actually contained in the shipments. Intertech admitted that it drastically undervalued the shipments, thereby evading the requirement to file Electronic Export Information, which would have been reported to the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security.

            “Evasion of export control requirements is a serious felony and undermines the government’s ability to ensure that sensitive equipment does not end up in the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Our office works closely with our law enforcement partners to detect, deter, and punish companies and individuals that violate export control laws.”

            “Through lies and deceit, Intertech Trading Corporation evaded U.S. export laws to illegally send sophisticated scientific equipment to Russia and Ukraine, jeopardizing our national security,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case demonstrates how the FBI and our law enforcement partners will use all the resources at our disposal to ensure that sensitive technology doesn’t end up in the wrong hands, and those who try and circumvent U.S. law will be held accountable.”

             This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes and Trial Attorney David Lim of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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