Pa. Man Admits to Buying $700K in Weapons from Philly Export Ring

A Belarus man admits he bought $700,000 worth of rifle scopes, night-vision goggles and other military hardware from a Philadelphia-based export ring -- but his lawyer says he sold them to hunters, not terrorists.
 
The sentencing of Siarhei "Sergey" Baltutski began this month in Philadelphia, but resumes Oct. 15 while the defense prepares its case.
 
The Justice Department says Baltutski, from Belarus, led teams of arms dealers based in Philadelphia, Chicago and Florida. Some items were shipped out in diplomatic pouches.
 
Prosecutors say the ring exported the same types of scopes, goggles and military hardware that enemy fighters have used against U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
However, defense lawyer Arkady Bukh of Brooklyn, N.Y., argues that the government has never matched up serial numbers from his client to an enemy combat operation.