Russia Jails Missing North Carolina Navy Veteran 5 Years Over Rifle on Yacht to Sochi
Russia has sentenced a North Carolina Navy veteran, identified as Zimmerman, to five years in prison after accusing him of transporting a rifle aboard his yacht to Sochi. Zimmerman's family says Russian naval forces intercepted the vessel in international waters, he voluntarily disclosed the firearm and has been denied U.S. consular access amid claims the case is a setup for a prisoner swap, while Russian courts say he chose to sail to Sochi after meeting a woman online in Kazan and that ignorance of gun laws is no defense.
📌 Key Facts
- A Russian court sentenced U.S. veteran Zimmerman to five years in prison over a firearm found on his yacht after authorities reported he docked in Sochi.
- Zimmerman’s sister, Robin Stultz, says Russian naval forces intercepted his yacht in international waters and forced him to motor roughly 22 hours to Sochi.
- Stultz says Zimmerman voluntarily disclosed the firearm to Russian authorities but was nonetheless charged with arms smuggling; she calls the case an "obvious set-up" intended to secure another American for a prisoner swap.
- Stultz asserts Zimmerman has been denied access to U.S. diplomatic representatives since his arrest and urges that he be declared "wrongfully detained."
- Russian court statements say Zimmerman "met a girl online" in Kazan and chose on his own to sail to Sochi, and that his claimed ignorance of Russian gun laws does not excuse liability.
📊 Relevant Data
As of February 2025, at least eight Americans remained detained in Russian prisons, including soldiers, teachers, and others, with several facing charges that families claim are pretextual for use in prisoner exchanges.
These Americans Are Still Detained in Russia — Newsweek
Since 2022, Russia and the US have conducted multiple prisoner swaps, including a major one in August 2024 involving 24 detainees, where Russia released Americans like Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan in exchange for Russian nationals held abroad.
Russian gun laws generally prohibit foreigners from possessing or transporting firearms without special permits from authorities, with regulations simplified in 2014 for legal imports but remaining strict overall.
Gun control in Russia — Wikipedia
In January 2026, Russia seized 12 commercial vessels with U.S. ownership or financial ties in the Arctic, marking an escalation in maritime interceptions amid sanctions-related tensions.
The Arctic Flashpoint: Russia's $3 Billion Seizure and the New Cold War on Ice — Modern Ghana
Americans detained in Russia from 2022-2025 include a notable proportion of military veterans or active-duty personnel, such as former Marine Paul Whelan and soldier Gordon Black, representing about 30-40% of high-profile cases based on listed detainees.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Zimmerman’s sister, Robin Stultz, says Russian naval forces intercepted his yacht in international waters and forced him to motor roughly 22 hours to Sochi.
- Stultz asserts that Zimmerman voluntarily disclosed the firearm to Russian authorities but was still charged with arms smuggling, and she calls the case an 'obvious set-up' to secure another American for a prisoner swap.
- She claims he has been denied access to U.S. diplomatic representatives since his arrest and urges that he be declared 'wrongfully detained.'
- Russian court statements emphasize that Zimmerman 'met a girl online' in Kazan and chose on his own to sail to Sochi, and that his claimed ignorance of Russian gun laws does not excuse liability.