Viktor Bout

The “Viktor Bout Case” began in the spring of 2008, when the U.S. incriminated the 41-year-old Russian aviation-industry businessman with charges of illegal arms trafficking and aiding the radical terrorist group FARC. Bout was arrested in Bangkok and extradited to the United States in 2010. Since that time, he has faced charges on four counts: criminal conspiracy to murder American citizens; conspiracy to murder U.S. government officials; obtaining and selling anti-aircraft weaponry; and the supply of weaponry to terrorist groups. In April 2012, Bout was sentenced to 25 years in jail. Bout's lawyers continue to call the process of Bout’s conviction and sentencing illegal. An official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry has said that it will lobby for Bout to be returned to Russia.