Alex Striganov of IS Aviation NEED TO BE STOPPED!!!

So here’s a little background on my complaint. In August 2009 I was approached by Alex Striganov the Vice President at IS Aviation, Inc.
Apparently he read an article about me in a magazine dedicated to private aircraft pilots. I am a collector or cold war era aircrafts specifically Soviet jets and rotary aircrafts. He represented himself as a man who could get me any aircraft I wanted. I told him that I was interested in an Aero L-39 a training jet aircraft for my son. He told me that the L-39 would not be a problem since many former soviet nations were upgrading their air forces and many L-39’s were available at great prices. I told him to get a portfolio together of available L-39 aircrafts and I would take a look at it.

Once I received the portfolio I was shocked as the prices were too good to be true. In general a L-39 Albatros that was built in the early 70’s cost around $200, 000 to $250, 000. The ones he showed me were in the $100, 000 to $150, 000 range. When I asked him how he could offer these jets at such a low price, he simply told me that he has contacts in the eastern block and that with a little bribery to military officials he could get anything in their airforce at a substantially low price. This is where I should have ended our business relationship but greed got the better of me.

I was skeptical so I informed Alex Striganov that I would need to view and inspect any aircraft before I would put down any kind of deposit. This did not make him happy but he agreed. About a week later Alex Striganov asked if I had time to travel to the Ukraine to inspect and test fly the L-39 he had found for me and I agreed.

In Kiev, Alex Striganov introduced me to many of his “friends” and constantly told me how they were in his pocket and that through him I could have the collection of my dreams. On the second day of my trip I was taken to a military base where I inspected and flew the L-39 that was reserved for me. I was extremely happy at the condition and the low flying hours the aircraft had. I agreed to purchase aircraft and gave Alex Striganov a deposit of $50, 000 USD, which was wired to an account in the Ivory Coast. This should have been another red flag but again greed got the better of me. He told me using an account in Africa was important to “get things going” and that by the end of the month it would be in my hanger.

Several weeks past, and no word from Alex Striganov or IS aviation. I called every phone number I had for Alex and he would never pick up. When I called from a number he did not recognize he would pick up but would hang up almost immediately stating that we had a “bad connection.”

I have since given up on retrieving the $50, 000 deposit or getting the aircraft I wanted for my son. I normally do not have time to complain on line but I think it’s important that people know that Alex Striganov is a scam artist who steals your money. I have contacted Interpol and the Ukraine authorities to Alex Striganov’s fraudulent business practices.

This is a just word of caution to anyone doing business with Alex Striganov. Alex Striganov is a con artist who will steal your money and lie to your face.