Here's What You Should Know About Viktor Bout, The Russian Prisoner Offered In Exchange For Brittney Griner

According to The New York Times, Bout is one of Russia’s most prominent arms dealers, receiving the nickname “Merchant of Death” for his weapons, and was arrested on narco-terrorism charges. His weapons have also allegedly been purchased by Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Rwandan insurgents.

The 2005 film Lord of War, which was released while the United States government attempted to capture Bout, was inspired by his life. In the film, Nicolas Cage plays a character who “confronts the morality of his work,” according to IMDb, as Interpol races against the clock to track him down.

According to NBC News, Bout was arrested in 2008. DEA agents met up with Bout in Bangkok, where he attempted to sell arms to agents posing as members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

After being captured, Bout was extradited to the United States, where he stood trial in a New York courtroom. In 2011, he was convicted of conspiring to kill Americans, conspiracy to obtain and use anti-aircraft missiles, and conspiring to provide material aid to terrorists,” according to the Department of Justice.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.