A Russian court has convicted and sentenced an American to five years in prison on charges of illegal arms trafficking, the Associated Press reported, citing court officials.
Charles Wayne Zimmerman's sentence was handed down by a court in Sochi after a rifle was found on his yacht in June. Russian customs officers found the weapon during a check upon arrival in Sochi.
A court statement said Zimmerman said he had come to Russia to meet a woman he had previously met online. The American also said he brought the firearm for self-defense and did not know he could not keep it on the yacht.
US authorities have not yet commented on the case.
Zimmerman is one of several Americans detained by Russian authorities. There have been a series of prisoner exchanges between Russia and the US in recent years.