Natalya Ivanovna Mazulina, also known as Natasha Mazulina, was sentenced Wednesday, June 24, 2026, to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Mazulina, 43, of Federal Way, Washington, was also ordered to forfeit $77,000 in criminal proceeds. She served as the western regional manager of Delex Air Cargo LLC, a freight forwarding company based in Jamaica, New York, operating out of John F. Kennedy International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The Conspiracy Scheme
According to court filings, Mazulina conspired with Russian freight forwarding companies and others from at least December 2022 through December 2024 to unlawfully ship controlled items from the United States to Russia through intermediary countries. The shipments included industrial oil and gas equipment subject to U.S. export controls. Prosecutors said she attempted to conceal the scheme by submitting, and causing the submission of, false export documents that omitted the ultimate destination of Russia.
A June 2023 communication cited in court filings revealed Mazulina told colleagues that her clients were paying through bank accounts in third-party countries because "Most of [her] clients [were] currently sanctioned with USA."
Investigation and Prosecution
Mazulina was arrested in December 2024 after a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment. She pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force established to enforce sanctions, export controls, and other economic countermeasures in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office and the Office of Export Enforcement’s Boston Field Office, with assistance from other federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skurnik prosecuted the case.
“The Russian oil and gas industry is the lifeblood that fuels the Russian war machine. This defendant put her own profits above the national security of the United States by conspiring to illegally export industrial oil and gas equipment to Russia. Our Office will continue to use all our law enforcement tools to investigate and prosecute those who evade export control laws.” — U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. added, “Natalya Mazulina bolstered Russia’s military capabilities and jeopardized our country’s security by violating U.S. export regulations. The FBI maintains its unwavering commitment to quash threat actors who exploit American companies to support adversarial agendas of hostile nations.”
Implications for Trade Compliance Officers
This case underscores the ongoing enforcement priorities of the U.S. government regarding exports to Russia. Key compliance takeaways include:
- Due diligence on end-users and intermediaries: Freight forwarders and exporters must verify the true end-use and end-user of controlled items, especially when shipments transit third countries.
- Red flags in payment methods: Payments routed through third-party countries or to entities in sanctioned jurisdictions warrant enhanced scrutiny.
- False documentation is a criminal offense: Submitting false export documents can lead to conspiracy charges, money laundering, and smuggling counts.
- Task Force KleptoCapture remains active: Companies should expect continued interagency collaboration targeting export control evasion related to Russia.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sentence | 18 months in federal prison |
| Forfeiture | $77,000 |
| Charge | Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act |
| Period of scheme | December 2022 – December 2024 |
| Controlled items | Industrial oil and gas equipment |
| Intermediary countries | Unnamed, used to conceal Russia destination |
| Prosecuting body | U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York |
| Task force | Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture |
Freight forwarding and logistics companies should review their export compliance programs to ensure they have robust screening of parties, transaction monitoring, and training to detect and prevent similar evasion schemes. The severe penalties—including prison time and forfeiture—demonstrate the high stakes of export control violations.
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