The Sconi

A Madison business owner has pleaded guilty to federal charges involving the illegal export of scientific equipment to Russia, violating U.S. export control laws. Andrew Pogosyan, 68, admitted guilt in federal court on four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and smuggling goods out of the country. The plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley, who set sentencing for October 7, 2025.

Pogosyan is a U.S. citizen born in Russia and operated Omega Diagnostics, LLC in Madison. According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearing, from around September 2022 through October 2023, Pogosyan exported controlled scientific and diagnostic research equipment components to Russia without obtaining required licenses from the Bureau of Industry and Security. He used third-party countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Latvia, and Lithuania as transshipment points to conceal the final destination of these exports.

“Today’s plea is the culmination of the outstanding work by our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. “As part of our on-going commitment to protecting national security, this office will hold accountable those who violate export control laws.”

“Mr. Pogosyan threatened the national security of the United States by violating sanctions and illegally exporting scientific laboratory equipment to companies in Russia,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI continues to tirelessly work with our law enforcement partners to investigate anyone who helps foreign adversaries evade sanctions. Pogosyan’s actions undermined the protections put in place to ensure U.S. national security.”

The Export Control Reform Act makes it a federal crime to willfully violate export control regulations imposed by the U.S government on certain goods and technology shipments abroad—especially following regulatory expansions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that targeted items potentially useful for chemical or biological weapons production.

Pogosyan faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and up to ten years for each smuggling violation at sentencing.

The case was investigated by agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security Office of Export Enforcement; and Homeland Security Investigations under the Department of Homeland Security. The prosecution is being handled by Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.