A federal indictment unsealed Monday in Savannah outlines what the FBI has labeled a "brazen scheme" to undermine U.S. trade sanctions and jeopardize U.S. national security interests by bolstering Russia's corruption-riddled oil and gas industry. 

The indictment charges Russian and Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen in Georgia and several companies that cater to international oil and gas interests, with engaging in a conspiracy that included alleged money-laundering, wire fraud and international trade sanction violations. The federal charges stem from an alleged attempt to supply an unnamed oil and gas company controlled by the Russian government with a power turbine, said Bobby Christine, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia in Savannah. 

The Vectra 40G power turbine at the heart of the indictment was intended for use by the Russians in the production of oil and gas in deepwater and offshore Arctic locations, Christine said in an announcement Tuesday. The unnamed Russian firm offered to pay $17.3 million to acquire the turbine despite a ban by the U.S. Commerce Department.

In return, the defendants allegedly conspired to conceal the true end user of the turbine from the U.S. manufacturer, Christine said. The defendants also attempted to deceive the U.S. government by submitting false documentation claiming the turbine would be used by a U.S. company for a nonexistent Atlanta power plant.

The unnamed Russian company is based in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, and is on the federal government's restricted list for the export of goods that could make a significant contribution to other nations' military potential or nuclear proliferation, or that could be detrimental to U.S. security interests.

"This prosecution demonstrates the high priority the Department of Justice places on the enforcement of U.S. restrictions on exports to Russia's oil and gas industry," said John C. Demers, the assistant attorney general for national security. "The U.S. government imposed these restrictions following the Russian annexation of Crimea and its use of force in Ukraine. Russia continues to undermine democratic processes and institutions in that region and adversely affects our national security."

The indictment—issued under seal in October—charges Russian national Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin his firm KS Engineering, and KSE employee Anton Cheremukhin, with engaging in the alleged conspiracy. Nikitin has pleaded not guilty, according to court documents.

Donnie Dixon (left) and Anthony Capozzolo. (Courtesy photos)

Nikitin has retained Savannah attorney Donnie Dixon, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, and New York attorney Anthony Capozzolo, a partner at Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss and a former federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York. Dixon declined to comment Tuesday, and Capozzolo couldn't be reached.

KS Engineering, also known as KS-Inzhiniring Co. Ltd., is based in St. Petersburg. The company specializes in systems for coal, gas, oil, nuclear and renewable energy power plants. No attorney of record has entered an appearance on behalf of KS Engineering or Cheremukhin.

The indictment also names as defendants U.S. citizen Dali Bagrou and his Georgia company, World Mining and Oil Supply. Headquartered in Dacula, north of Atlanta, World Mining and Oil Supply is a sourcing and supply company that specializes in industrial, mining and oil and gas products, according to the indictment. 

Bagrou's Savannah attorney, Stan Fitzgerald, couldn't be reached for comment. 

The indictment also names Italian nationals Gabriele Villone Bruno Caparini and Italian firm GVA International Oil and Gas Services as defendants. Villone is commercial director and manager of GVA, an engineering and construction firm specializing in the oil, gas and petrochemical energy industries, according to the indictment. Caparini was GVA's commercial director. Villone counsel Charlotte Fleming of Bloomingdale declined to comment. Her co-counsel, Howard Anderson couldn't be reached. No counsel of record has entered an appearance for Caparini or GVA.

Bagrou and Villone have entered not guilty pleas, according to court papers. Caparini and Chermukhin "are likely to remain at large," prosecutors said. An Interpol Red Notice has been issued warning they are wanted for prosecution in the U.S.

If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The indictment also includes a forfeiture provision for all property derived from proceeds traceable to offenses.