MOSCOW, April 2 - RAPSI. A US federal court in New York has relaxed some of the bail terms assigned to Viktoria Klebanova, who has pleaded guilty for her role in the illegal sale of microelectronics to Russia, according to legal documents obtained by RAPSI.
The FBI announced last October that it had charged 11 members of a procurement network comprised of Texas based export company ARC Electronics and Russian procurement firm APEX Systems. Both were collectively accused of "illegally exporting high-tech microelectronics from the United States to Russian military and intelligence agencies."
A US Department of Justice case summary explains the illegality of the sales as follows: "The microelectronics allegedly exported to Russia are subject to [US] controls due to their potential use in a wide range of military systems, including radar and surveillance systems, weapons guidance systems and detonation triggers."
Klebanova was a saleswoman for ARC Electronics, which was described in the indictment as a private corporation in the business of exporting high-tech products.
According to the indictment, Klebanova was accused of various aspects of involvement in the scheme. She had apparently been involved in the purchase of microelectronics from various US-based manufacturers and with arranging their sale to various Russian procurement companies.
She was further accused of assisting with a cover up once the US Department of Commerces (USDOC) became wise to the situation. According to the indictment, this involved ordering defendants working for APEX to forge documents and delete information from its website.
She was charged with conspiracy to violate various US laws and obstruction of justice.
She was released on a $250,000 bail bond last November. The bond was signed by seven promisors and secured with a $30,000 deposit. Since then, she has been living in Houston subject to curfew requirements and an ankle bracelet.
A motion filed by her attorneys seeking a relaxation of the bail terms states: "We respectfully submit that a curfew and an ankle bracelet are no longer necessary to ensure Ms. Klebanova's appearance in court. Ms. Klebanova pled guilty to the charges on January 10,2013. Moreover, her pre-trial officer in Texas advises that Ms. Klebanova has reported regularly and complied with all of the conditions of her release."
The request that the curfew and ankle bracelet requirements be lifted was granted and so ordered.