A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison Monday after he was convicted for his role in smuggling military equipment to Russia.

Vadim Yermolenko, 43, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for his role in exporting dual-use electronics to Russia to help the country’s military and intelligence services. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New York said in a statement.

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“The defendant lied to banks, facilitated the illegal export of ammunition and sensitive technology and evaded income taxes, all as part of a global procurement and money laundering network operated on behalf of the Russian Government,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella of the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

Yermolenko is one of several people who conspired to aid Russia’s military in the country’s war against Ukraine, federal prosecutors said. 

He funneled $12 million through bank accounts based in the U.S. and used that money to purchase sensitive intelligence and military equipment intended for Russia.

A federal investigation found affiliations between Yermolenko and Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, a Moscow-based company that was in the business of obtaining advanced electronics for Russia’s industrial research. The company, and several others, was under the direction of Russian intelligence services and it also operated shell companies and bank accounts.

Yermolenko was accused along with other co-conspirators who have also been accused of unlawfully purchasing and exporting U.S.-controlled electronic components to Russia. Nikolaos Bogonikolos, one co-conspirator, was previously sentenced to 15 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the scheme.

Yermolenko was born in Russia and is a dual U.S.-Russian citizen. He will additionally have to pay $75,547 in forfeiture as part of his sentence.

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“Through a sophisticated network of shell companies and bank accounts, Yermolenko laundered more than $12 million and purchased highly sensitive military equipment for Russia — aiding Russia’s military and intelligence agencies in violation of U.S. laws,” IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Harry Chavis said.

“Yermolenko’s greed and misplaced foreign allegiance created a potential threat to our national security and law enforcement’s collaboration on this case ensures that our communities are safe from this potential vulnerability,” Chavis continued.