U.S. Charges Against Integra Technologies for Illegal Exports to Russia

By Karen Freifeld

(Reuters) – A California company, Integra Technologies, settled proposed U.S. charges for illegally shipping transistors and other items to Russia which could be utilized in radar and avionics for its war against Ukraine, as stated by the Commerce Department on Wednesday.

Integra Technologies, specializing in radio frequency and microwave power solutions, dispatched $6.67 million worth of transistors and related items to eight Russian customers in 94 shipments from February to October 2023, according to the settlement agreement.

As part of the settlement, the Commerce Department imposed a civil penalty of $3.3 million, which was reduced as the company self-disclosed the violations and cooperated. Additionally, $1.5 million was suspended due to the company's financial situation.

John Sonderman, director of the Commerce Department's Office of Export Enforcement, remarked, "After Russia's further invasion of Ukraine, the United States imposed extensive new export controls for Russia. As these controls continued to evolve, it was critical for any U.S. company that made the decision to continue to export to Russia to closely track and implement updates to the controls. Integra failed to do so."

Following the invasion in February 2022, the U.S. and other nations instituted broad restrictions on exports to Russia, which were tightened several times including new controls on transistors in February 2023. A list of 50 Common High Priority Items essential to Russia's war efforts, including transistors, was created in July 2023.

The Commerce Department stated that Integra did not recognize until October 2023 that it was violating export regulations.

Integra Technologies, based in El Segundo, California, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.