Whelan is a silent partner in a Hallandale Beach, Florida gun store called Aquila Arms LLC. The illegal arms scheme of selling sniper gear to Russia has already resulted in the conviction of an American citizen, Vladimir Novidomy. He is serving a 26-month jail sentence. Dmitry Makarenko was charged in the same case. Dmitry was arrested the day after Whelan was arrested in Mosow for being a spy. The court ruled Makarenko a fugitive for missing two sentence hearings. He left Miami and moved back to his hometown in Russia, Vladivoskok.