U.S. Appellate Court Affirms Viktor Bout’s Conviction

 On September 27, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the conviction of Viktor Bout, a Russian national who was arrested after an innovative international sting operation.  After lengthy and hotly controverted proceedings in Thailand, including political pressure from both the U.S. and Russian governments, Bout was extradited to the U.S.  He was convicted following a jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, of:  (1) conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2332(b); (2) conspiracy to kill U.S. officers and employees, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1117; (3) conspiracy to acquire and export a missile system designed to destroy aircraft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2332g; and (4) conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2339B.[1]