The person at the center of this case
United States (victim of fraud, export control violations, and national security breach)
Cold Case · Open
3 years waiting · since 2022
BORIS YAKOVLEVICH LIVSHITS
Justice for United States (victim of fraud, export control violations, and national security breach) — the trail went cold in 2022, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Livshits currently located given his known ties to Russia, Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United States?
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evidence
Lead #2What front companies did Livshits control and operate, and what financial records document the smuggling transactions?
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clue
Lead #3How many military-grade sniper bullets and rounds were smuggled, and through which supply chains were they distributed?
Boris Yakovlevich Livshits is wanted by the FBI for his alleged role in operating Serniya/Sertal, a Russian-backed procurement network that illegally sourced and shipped advanced military technologies from U.S. manufacturers to Russian government agencies between 2017 and 2022. The scheme involved smuggling sensitive dual-use equipment for quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and nuclear weapons development through front companies designed to conceal Russian involvement. Livshits remains at large with known ties across Russia, Eastern Europe, and the United States, making his location and current whereabouts a critical investigative priority.
Case
#521
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4Who were the co-conspirators in the Serniya/Sertal network, and have they been identified or apprehended?
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location
Lead #5Which U.S. manufacturers and technology companies were targeted for procurement, and how were they deceived about end-use destinations?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States; Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA); Bank Fraud Conspiracy; Wire Fraud Conspiracy; Wire Fraud; Money Laundering Conspiracy; Money Laundering; Conspiracy to Violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA); Smuggling Goods from the United States; Failure to File Electronic Export Information Caution: Boris Yakovlevich Livshits is wanted for his alleged involvement in the Russian-backed procurement network Serniya/Sertal from 2017 to 2022. Livshits and his co-conspirators allegedly unlawfully sourced, purchased, and shipped military and sensitive dual-use technologies from United States manufacturers to Russian end users.
These items included advanced testing equipment used in quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, nuclear weapons development, and other military and space-based military applications. Serniya’s clients included the National Research Nuclear University of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute; the Ministry of Defense; the Foreign Intelligence Service ("SVR"); and various components of the Federal Security Service ("FSB"), Russia's principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union's KGB.
Livshits allegedly controlled several American and international front companies that operated on behalf of the Serniya Network. These entities conducted no actual business and were allegedly used to obfuscate the role of Russian or sanctioned entities in transactions with American and Western technology companies.
Livshits allegedly facilitated the financing and smuggling of tens of thousands of controlled, American-manufactured military grade sniper bullets and rounds. Livshits was indicted by the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, New York, on December 5, 2022, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.
Remarks: Livshits has ties to Russia, Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United States.
Timeline of Events
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2017
Serniya/Sertal Network Operations Begin
Boris Yakovlevich Livshits and co-conspirators begin unlawfully sourcing and shipping military and dual-use technologies from U.S. manufacturers to Russian end users
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2022-12-05
Federal Indictment Issued
Livshits indicted by United States District Court, Eastern District of New York for conspiracy to defraud the United States, IEEPA violations, bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, export control violations, and smuggling
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2017
Last Updated:October 30, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2017
Last Updated:October 30, 2026