American sentenced to 5 years in Russia prison after rifle found on his yacht at Black Sea resort

An American citizen has been sentenced to five years in a Russian prison after being convicted of illegally transporting weapons, court officials announced on Monday.

Charles Wayne Zimmerman received the sentence from a court in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, following the discovery of a rifle on his yacht in June.

Russian customs officials reportedly found the weapon during an inspection upon his arrival at the port.

According to a statement from the regional courts' press service, Mr Zimmerman told the court he had travelled to Russia to meet a woman he had previously contacted online.

Zimmerman argued that he had purchased the firearm for self-defence and was unaware that it was prohibited to keep it on his vessel.

There has been no immediate comment from U.S. officials regarding the conviction.

Zimmerman is one of a few Americans who remain in Russian custody after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the United States in recent years.