Miami Mogul's $139M Sanctions Dodge: Decade-Long Export Freeze
Published Date: 5/22/2025
Notice
Summary
Sergey Karpushkin from Miami got caught and convicted for illegally buying over $139 million in metal products linked to a sanctioned oligarch. Because of this, the government is officially banning him from exporting anything for up to 10 years, and any export licenses he had are now revoked. This ban started right after his conviction in April 2024, meaning no export business for him anytime soon!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
10-Year Export Ban for Individual
Sergey Karpushkin was convicted on April 17, 2024, and is denied export privileges until April 17, 2034. From the date of this Order through April 17, 2034, he may not directly or indirectly participate in any transaction involving any item subject to the Export Administration Regulations, including applying for or using licenses, negotiating, buying, receiving, selling, transporting, financing, servicing, or otherwise benefiting from such items.
Revocation of BIS Licenses Linked to Him
Any Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) licenses or authorizations in which Karpushkin had an interest at the time of his conviction are revoked. The revocations follow his conviction for violating 18 U.S.C. 371 on April 17, 2024.
Prohibition on Others Dealing With Denied Person
No person may export, reexport, or transfer to or on behalf of the Denied Person any item subject to the Regulations, or take actions that facilitate the Denied Person acquiring or controlling such items, through April 17, 2034. This also bars obtaining items from the Denied Person or servicing items owned or controlled by the Denied Person when the activity involves items subject to the Regulations.
Affiliates Can Be Added To Prevent Evasion
Any person, firm, corporation, or business organization related to Karpushkin by ownership, control, position, affiliation, or other connection may also be made subject to this Order to prevent evasion. The Order explicitly allows extending restrictions to related entities.
Right To Appeal Within 45 Days
Karpushkin may file an appeal of this Order with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. The appeal must be filed within 45 days from the date of this Order and must comply with Part 756 of the Regulations.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17323, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Directive Allocation Orders Under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System in Response to Presidential Determination on Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the OMB approved emergency collection for the Temporary Final Rule "DPAS Directive Allocation Order and Additional Requirements for Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials" (August 6, 2026, 91 FR 50701).
2026-17231, Revisions to the Entity List
The U.S. government just updated its Entity List by removing two addresses linked to Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) from the list that restricts exports to certain Chinese companies. This change, effective August 21, 2026, follows earlier removals of related Arrow entities and means fewer export restrictions for these businesses. If you trade with these companies, expect smoother deals and less paperwork starting soon!
2026-17230, Removal From the Entity List
The U.S. Department of Commerce just removed one company from Turkey from the Entity List, meaning it’s no longer under tough export restrictions. This change starts August 21, 2026, making it easier and faster for businesses to trade with that company without extra licenses or delays. It’s a win for smoother global trade and shows trust in the company’s good behavior.
2026-16628, Streamlining Export Controls for Drone Exports
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is easing export controls on certain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) and related parts, components, accessories, attachments, technology, and software under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Specifically, this rule: eliminates wind gust tolerance as a parameter for determining UAV controls under the EAR; increases the threshold for national security controls on certain UAVs from an endurance of 30 minutes to an endurance of 3 hours; makes conforming changes to remove national security controls on software and technology associated with UAVs with an endurance less than 3 hours; maintains military end-use and end-user controls on those lower endurance drones and associated software and technology; clarifies Commerce Control List (CCL) controls for certain UAVs specially designed for military use; and removes national security controls on certain specially designed parts, components, accessories, and attachments for such UAVs as they do not provide any significant military or intelligence capabilities.
2026-15961, Request for Public Comments on the Proposed Implementation of Duties on Additional Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Derivative Articles Under Section 232
This notice requests public comments on a proposal to include 14 additional derivative articles within the scope of the Section 232 duties on steel, aluminum, and copper: aluminum powder; brass-wind musical instruments and their parts and accessories; parts of welding machines and apparatus; floor safes; certain electric conductor cables; fire extinguishers; parts of heat exchange units; parts of certain hydraulic engines and motors; certain self-propelled cranes, mobile lifting frames, and straddle carriers; tanker trailers and semi- trailers; self-loading or self-unloading trailers and semi-trailers for agricultural purposes; certain other trailers and semi-trailers; and certain filled steel containers.
2026-16078, DPAS Directive Allocation Order and Additional Requirements for Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials
The Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS") is publishing this temporary final rule to restrict the exportation of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap without a license. Specifically, as of August 27, 2026, U.S. persons engaged in the sale of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap must allocate 100 percent of monthly sales to U.S. persons, unless an adjustment or exception is obtained in advance from BIS. This action is taken pursuant to section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended ("DPA" or the "Act"), the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (15 CFR part 700) and Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials, dated July 30, 2026 ("DPA Determination on Recoverable CMMs"), in which the President authorized the Department of Commerce ("Commerce") to address the scarcity of recoverable critical minerals and materials ("CMMs"). BIS invites the public to submit comments on whether any additional sales requirements are necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-09173, In the Matter of Roberto Marrero-Cisneros, Inmate Number: 24458-018, FCI JESUP, Federal Correctional Institution, 2680 301 South, Jesup, GA 31599; Order Denying Export Privileges
Roberto Marrero-Cisneros, who was convicted for illegally exporting stolen boat parts, is now banned from exporting anything from the U.S. for seven years. This means he can’t get any export licenses or permissions during this time. The ban started on May 19, 2023, and affects his ability to do business involving exports, with no money or license privileges allowed.
Next: 2025-09175, In the Matter of Steve Trevino, 7014 Palacios Cv, San Antonio, TX 78242-2327; Order Denying Export Privileges
Steve Trevino from San Antonio got caught smuggling guns from the U.S. to Mexico and was sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison. Because of this, the government is banning him from exporting anything for 10 years and taking away any export licenses he had. This means Trevino can’t legally send goods out of the country until 2033, and any money tied to his export activities is frozen.