Thread: 10 Russian secret agents arrested in US

10 alleged Russian secret agents arrested in US

By PETE YOST (AP) – 38 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — Ten people have been arrested for allegedly serving as secret agents of the Russian government in the United States, the Justice Department said Monday.

Eight of 10 were arrested Sunday for allegedly carrying out long-term, deep cover assignments in the United States on behalf of Russia.

Two others were arrested for allegedly participating in the same Russian intelligence program within the United States.

Their job, according to the court papers in the case, was "to search and develop ties in policymaking circles" in the United States.

Each of the 10 was charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison on conviction.

The cases were filed in U.S. District Court for the southern district of New York.

Federal law prohibits individuals from acting as agents of foreign governments within the United States without notifying the U.S. attorney general.

Nine of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum 20 years in prison on conviction.

FBI agents arrested the defendants known as Richard Murphy and Cynthia Murphy at their residence in Montclair, N.J., and they were appearing Monday in federal court in Manhattan.

Three other defendants also were being taken to federal court in Manhattan — Vicky Pelaez and a defendant known as "Juan Lazaro," who were arrested at their residence in Yonkers, N.Y., and Anna Chapman, who was arrested in Manhattan on Sunday.

Two other defendants known as Michael Zottoli and Patricia Mills were arrested at their residence in Arlington, Va., and were appearing in federal court in Alexandria, Va., on Monday.

Also being taken to federal court in Alexandria was Mikhail Semenko, who was arrested Sunday at his residence in Arlington.

Two defendants known as Donald Howard Heathfield and Tracey Lee Ann Foley were arrested at their residence in Boston on Sunday and were appearing in federal court in Boston on Monday.

The Justice Department said that a defendant known as Christopher R. Metsos was not in custody.

The arrests were the result of a multiyear FBI investigation into an alleged network of U.S.-based agents who concealed all connections between themselves and Russia.

The U.S. government intercepted a message from Russian intelligence headquarters in Moscow to two of the defendants, Richard and Cynthia Murphy.

"You were sent to USA for long-term service trip," the message from Moscow. "Your education, bank accounts, car, house etc. — all these serve one goal: fulfill your main mission, i.e. to search and develop ties in policymaking circles in US and sent intels," the message added.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... AD9GKGHN80

So will Eric Holder let these guys go? After all,Obama is working out a new friendship with Russia now. Starting up new talks and being buddies. Can't let something like this come between them.

I thought we were all Comrades here...lol

Were Borus and Natasha among those captured?

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release
June 28, 2010 U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 514-2007/TDD (202) 514-1888

Ten Alleged Secret Agents Arrested in the United States

Multi-year FBI Investigation Uncovers Network in the United States Tasked with Recruiting Sources and Collecting Information for Russia

WASHINGTON—Eight individuals were arrested Sunday for allegedly carrying out long-term, “deep-coverâ€

Federal law prohibits individuals from acting as agents of foreign governments within the United States without notifying the U.S. attorney general.

This is only part of the "foreign agent" problem. All unregistered acts of foreign agency--even if they are in the private, commercial sector--- are regarded by law as forms of espionage. After all, businesses do not want their trade secrets walking off to other countries.

Foreign groups, or "principals" in legal parlance, no matter who they are, have no right to have their people here lobbying our Congress without proper registration as agents.

TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE

CHAPTER 11--FOREIGN AGENTS AND PROPAGANDA

SUBCHAPTER II--REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN PROPAGANDISTS


Sec. 611. Definitions

As used in and for the purposes of this subchapter--
(a) The term ``person'' includes an individual, partnership,
association, corporation, organization, or any other combination of
individuals;
(b) The term ``foreign principal'' includes--
(1) a government of a foreign country and a foreign political
party;
(2) a person outside of the United States, unless it is
established that such person is an individual and a citizen of and
domiciled within the United States, or that such person is not an
individual and is organized under or created by the laws of the
United States or of any State or other place subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place of
business within the United States; and
(3) a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or
other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having
its principal place of business in a foreign country.

We need to be protesting to the Legal Counsel of the Senate Republicans of the Judicary Committeee that foreign citizens and their advocates are illegally lobbying the US Congress.

Senate Judiciary Minority office:

Phone:202-224-5225
Fax:202-224-9102

Jun 28, 2010

11 'deep cover' agents in U.S. accused of spying for Russia

03:56 PM

The Justice Department has arrested 10 Russian intelligence officers for allegedly serving as "illegal agents of the Russian government in the United States," the Associated Press is reporting.

Eight were arrested Sunday.

More soon.

Updated at 4:13 p.m. ET: As is often the case, the Justice Department news release is a bit convoluted. Eleven people have been charged but one remains at large. The Justice Department names all the defendants but lists several with quotation marks around them, apparent aliases, though that isn't spelled out.

The 11 are accused of carrying out long-term, "deep cover" espionage for the Russian Federation. Nine were also accused of attempted money laundering.

Here are the names and locations where they were arrested:

"Richard Murphy" and "Cynthia Murphy," Montclair, N.J.; Vicky Pelaez and "Juan Lazaro," Yonkers, N.Y.; Anna Chapman, Manhattan; "Michael Zottoli" and "Patricia Mills," Arlington, Va.; Mikhail Semenko, Arlington, Va.; and "Donald Howard Heathfield" and "Tracey Lee Ann Foley," Boston.

"Christopher R. Metsos" remains at large.

Update at 6:29 p.m. ET: The New York Times writes that the complaints filed in federal cour "read like a thriller novel":

Secret Russian agents were assigned to live as married couples in the United States, even having children who were apparently unaware of their parents' true identities. A spy swapped identical bags with a Russian official as they brushed past each other in a train station stairwell. Messages were written with invisible ink, hidden in the data of digital pictures, and encoded in messages sent over shortwave radio.

The Times adds that it's not yet clear "what their intelligence reports were about and whether it succeeded in stealing any state secrets of major value."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... f-spying/1

I want to know what jobs these people were holding for the entire time they were here.

Originally Posted by redpony353

I want to know what jobs these people were holding for the entire time they were here.

CNN says one of them worked for a Spanish language newspaper.

"Five of the arrested suspects appeared in a New York courtroom Monday. Four of the five, including a longtime U.S.-based columnist for the Spanish-language "El Diario" newspaper, were advised of their rights and ordered held due to flight risk, with their next hearing scheduled for July 1."

Feds arrest 10 accused of being Russian agents

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/28/ ... gletoolbar