Charles Zimmerman, who is a US Navy veteran, has been sentenced to 5 years in a Russian jail for smuggling weapons.

The 58-year old father of two who hails from Virginia was on a sailing trip from the US to New Zealand via Europe in 2024 when he was ordered to stop by a Russian warship.

Though he had not planned to stop in Russia, he did so to meet a Russian woman he met online.

The man had spent all his savings on the yacht called Trude Zena and was sailing in international waters when the Russian Navy ordered him to head to port, after which a frigate escorted him to Sochi.

The US Navy veteran admitted to having a rifle and ammunition on his yacht, and informed Russian officials that he did not know it was illegal.

He met a woman online who lives in Kazan and decided to join her in Russia on his yacht, per the Russia Krasnodar Krai court system.

The court added that the man did not research Russian laws and assumed that the weapons he kept for his ‘safety’ on the yacht should remain with him onboard at all times.

However, details of the incident have led to suspicions, including the fact that Zimmerman was taken by a Russian frigate to the port, a journey that would take at least 22 hours.

Zimmerman’s brother said that he was in international waters when he was intercepted by the Russian Navy and forced to sail 22 hours to Sochi.

His sister, Robin Stultz, added that he was sailing from the U.S. to New Zealand, and it was obvious he had a firearm on his yacht.

Per many reports, the veteran believed he would be allowed to go after giving a fine, but he has been detained and sent to prison for 5 years.

“This is an obvious setup to get another American they can trade with. He needs to be declared wrongfully detained,” his sister added.

She is in contact with the US embassy in Moscow, the FBI in Washington, and his court-appointed attorney.

She added that her brother has been set up, though it remains unclear if he was a victim of the “honey-trap” operation. Still, the Kremlin is known for such tactics.

The U.S has accused Russia of wrongfully imprisoning US citizens and using them as bargaining chips for Russian spies being held abroad.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, many foreigners, including Americans, have been detained in Russia, per Fox News.