National Guardsman Canyon Amarys accused of attempting to transfer technology to Russia

National Guard Member Charged for Sharing Military Secrets

A member of the National Guard has been charged for allegedly trying to send classified U.S. military technology to Russia.

Canyon Anthony Amaris, 28, from Alamogordo, New Mexico, was arrested on Tuesday. Authorities believe he photographed a military base at Fort Riley, Kansas, and attempted to share those images with individuals he suspected were Russian agents.

Prosecutors claim Amaris also planned to acquire and send helicopter radios used by the Russian military. He is facing charges under the Export Control Reform Act and made his first court appearance on Thursday in the District of Kansas.

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Back in February, Amaris reportedly met with an undercover agent, thought to be working for Russian intelligence, at a hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. During this meeting, he signed a document acknowledging his “secret relationship” with Russian operatives.

The undercover agent provided him with several thousand dollars to purchase a Garmin GTR-205 helicopter radio and to photograph facilities at Fort Riley.

Shortly after this meeting, Amaris allegedly visited Fort Riley and took photos of what he believed to be classified U.S. military equipment. According to the FBI, this gathering was documented as part of an undercover investigation.

Intended Shipment of Military Equipment

Amaris is said to have bought the radio in March, intending to send it to Romania. He packaged it and brought it to a USPS facility in Junction City, Kansas, where it could have been diverted to Russia.

Prior to shipping the radio, prosecutors say Amaris confirmed in a recorded conversation that he understood the radios would be sent illegally to Russia. He even admitted to having looked into export regulations before his meeting in February.