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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Sentenced to 25 Years

    Viktor Bout was captured in Thailand, to which he was lured by American agents posing as Colombian rebels. Today the international arms dealer received the minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison from an American judge, who said Bout "might never have committed the charged crimes" if it hadn't been for the sting.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Viktor Bout was captured in Thailand, to which he was lured by American agents posing as Colombian rebels. Today the international arms dealer received the minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison from an American judge, who said Bout "might never have committed the charged crimes" if it hadn't been for the sting. Russia is loudly denouncing the trial, conviction and sentencing. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Bout was deprived of his rights and should be returned to Russian soil. Douglas Farah, president of a national security consulting firm, is co-author of a book about Bout, Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    A Fertility Implosion and an Aging Population
    1. 0:00Unemployment Rate Dips, but Hiring Slows as Well
    2. 7:35Global Ageing: Peril or Promise?
    3. 43:42Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Sentenced to 25 YearsYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Douglas Farah

      IBI Consultants

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    A Fertility Implosion and an Aging Population
    1. 0:00Unemployment Rate Dips, but Hiring Slows as Well
    2. 7:35Global Ageing: Peril or Promise?
    3. 43:42Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Sentenced to 25 YearsYou’re reading this
    Back to To the Point