Russian Viktor Bout Convicted In Weapon Trading Case

According to CNN, former Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was convicted and may need to spend rest of his life in prison after a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on Wednesday.

Bout was convicted plan to kill Americans, US officials and also export anti-aircraft missiles to a terrorist. Moreover, he was making millions dollars by selling those weapon to terror groups.

According to Reuters, Bout agreed to sell arms to people, who he thought were Colombian militants, but actually were undercover agents, and intend to attack American soldiers.

Although Bout was charged only in expenses with the suspected arms deal, but US authorities have said he has been involving in trading arms since 1990s. He also tries to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East, according to The New York Times.

Preet Bharara, who is the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, called Bout “a very dangerous man. He aimed to sell those weapons to terrorists for the purpose of killing Americans.”

Albert Dayan, who is Bout's attorney, said the verdict will be appealed, according to NCC.

"I still stand by my position that Viktor was wrongfully accused," said Dayan. "They jury has spoken bit his position is still that he's innocent." 

Bout was a former Soviet officer who was known for the international arms markets as the Merchant of Death. He was arrest in Thailand in the year of 2008, and had been transferred to United States.

Kaplan also explained that Bout would appeal the conviction after sentencing, which is February 8.

“It was a tough case,“ said Bout's attorney, Kenneth Kaplan. “We gave it a good flight. The flight is not over. He has various options."

Before Bout was arrested after the DEA struggled to draw him out of his homeland, which is long thought to have sheltered and defended him. 

Photo by Yukon White Light.