Kansas National Guard member accused of trying to sell high-tech helicopter radio to Russia

A Kansas National Guard member remains in federal custody after authorities said he tried to provide Russia with a special aviation radio that can’t be exported without a U.S. government license.

Canyon Anthony Amarys, 28, was arrested last week and charged with attempting to violate the Export Control Reform Act. According to the indictment filed against him, Mr. Amarys reached out to Russian officials last year and offered to “provide services covertly to the Russian government.”

Moscow apparently showed no interest and passed the details to U.S. officials, who then set up a sting operation. Mr. Amarys was introduced to undercover law enforcement investigators in February 2025, who portrayed themselves to him as agents of the Russian intelligence service, officials said.

“Amarys signed a one-page agreement in order to confirm his covert relationship with a Russian intelligence service,” the U.S. Justice Department said. “As part of that relationship, Amarys agreed to photograph a military installation on Fort Riley, Kansas, and to procure a helicopter radio for use by the Russian military.”

Mr. Amarys met a man in a hotel room in Overland Park, Kansas, in February 2025, who gave him thousands of dollars to buy a Garmin GTR-250 radio. It was subject to U.S. expert controls, and its shipment to Russia was restricted under U.S. laws and regulations, officials said.

He bought the Garmin helicopter radio in March 2025 and had it sent to a U.S. Post Office in Junction City, Kansas. Mr. Amarys then said it would be shipped to an address in Romania and then illegally diverted to Russia, according to the indictment against him.

“Amarys confirmed his understanding that the radio, after being shipped to the purported address in Romania, was to be illegally diverted to Russia,” federal officials said.

He then went to nearby Fort Riley and photographed a building that he believed contained sensitive military technology.

“Amarys sent the [undercover investigator] this photo later the same day, believing his actions were for the benefit of the Russian government,” federal prosecutors said in the indictment filed against him.

Mr. Amarys is being held at the Federal Correctional Institution, Leavenworth in Kansas. He is facing 20 years behind bars and a $1 million fine if convicted.