American Sentenced in Russia for Weapon Charges

A Russian court sentenced American Charles Wayne Zimmerman to five years in prison for illegally transporting a rifle on his yacht. The weapon was discovered in Sochi, and Zimmerman claimed he was unaware of the legal restrictions. This adds to the list of Americans detained in Russia.

An American citizen, Charles Wayne Zimmerman, has been convicted by a Russian court for illegally transporting a firearm.

The incident took place when Russian customs officials found a rifle aboard his yacht in the Black Sea city of Sochi. Zimmerman received a five-year prison sentence.

He stated that the weapon was for self-defense and claimed ignorance of Russian laws prohibiting firearms on yachts. The U.S. government has yet to comment on the case.