Re: US authorities 'bust Russian spy ring'
- From: "Jdr" <jdr@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:16:46 +0100
Ten arrested in US on charges of spying for Russia
"Just last week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was in Washington having lunch with President Barack Obama."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10442223.stm
Ten arrested in US on charges of spying for Russia
Page last updated at 01:58 GMT, Tuesday, 29 June 2010 02:58 UK
E-mail this to a friendPrintable version American investigators search the home of one of the alleged spies
Ten people have been arrested in the US for allegedly spying for the Russian government.
They were allegedly part of an operation where agents posed as ordinary citizens, some living together as couples for years.
They are charged with conspiracy to act as unlawful agents of a foreign government, a crime which carries up to five years in prison.
An 11th suspect remains at large, according to the US justice department.
Nine of them are also charged with conspiracy to launder money, which carries a 20-year prison sentence.
Alleged intercepted messages in court documents suggest they were asked to find information on topics including nuclear weapons, US arms control positions, Iran, White House rumours, CIA leadership turnover, and political parties.
'Infiltrate'
The US Department of Justice says eight of the suspects allegedly carried out "long-term, 'deep-cover' assignments" on US soil, working in civilian jobs so as not to arouse suspicion.
They were allegedly trained by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) to infiltrate policy-making circles and collect information, according to court papers filed in the US court for the southern district of New York.
They were told to befriend US officials and send information using various methods to Russian government handlers.
US officials said the spy-ring was discovered in a "multi-year investigation" by FBI agents who posed as Russian handlers and gleaned information from two of the suspects.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says it is a story of Cold War era espionage with the tools and technology of the 21st Century.
MARDELL'S AMERICA
Continue reading the main story
Russian intelligence allegedly asked them for information on Washington's perception of Russian foreign policy, Iran's nuclear programme and Obama's intentions at a summit last year
Mark Mardell
BBC North America editor
Read Mark's blog in full
Investigators say some of the agents had been using false identities since the early 1990s, using codes and engaging in advanced computer operations, including posting apparently innocent pictures on the internet which contained hidden text.
The FBI also reported observing older techniques, such as money being buried next to a beer-bottle marker and "brush pasts" in parks, where agents swap identical bags as they pass each other.
"You were sent to USA for long-term service trip," says one purported message to two of the suspects that was intercepted by US intelligence.
"Your education, bank accounts, car, house etc - all these serve one goal: fulfil your main mission, ie to search and develop ties in policymaking circles in US and send intels."
'Americanised'
Generally, spies were allegedly tasked with becoming "Americanised" to be able to do this, with some pursuing university degrees, holding jobs, and joining relevant professional associations, court documents said.
The group allegedly got close to a scientist involved in designing bunker-busting bombs and a top former intelligence official.
Five of the suspects briefly appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Monday, where a judge ordered them to remain in prison until a preliminary hearing set for 27 July.
These included a couple known as "Richard Murphy" and "Cynthia Murphy", who were arrested in Montclair, New Jersey; Vicky Pelaez and a man known as "Juan Lazaro," who were arrested in Yonkers, New York state; and Anna Chapman, who was arrested in Manhattan, New York City.
Another three - Mikhail Semenko and a couple known as "Michael Zottoli" and "Patricia Mills" - will appear in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, after being arrested in Arlington, Virginia.
The final two people - a couple known as "Donald Howard Heathfield" and "Tracey Lee Ann Foley" - were arrested in Boston, Massachusetts, and will appear in a federal court in the city.
A suspect known as "Christopher R Metsos" remains at large.
All the suspects except Ms Chapman and Mr Semenko have also been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Our correspondent says the arrests will come as quite a surprise, as relations between Washington and Moscow have warmed considerably in recent months.
Just last week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was in Washington having lunch with President Barack Obama.
A senior government official told the BBC that it was unfortunate that such activity was taking place in the US, but should not affect the momentum established in the relationship with Russia.
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: US authorities 'bust Russian spy ring'
- From: MacCorkindale
- Re: US authorities 'bust Russian spy ring'
- References:
- US authorities 'bust Russian spy ring'
- From: MacCorkindale
- US authorities 'bust Russian spy ring'
- Prev by Date: Re: Amerykanie zatrzymali dziesieciu rosyjskich szpiegów
- Next by Date: Re: Falszywy hrabia Komorowski - i wyznania Sharona...
- Previous by thread: Re: Amerykanie zatrzymali dziesieciu rosyjskich szpiegów
- Next by thread: Re: US authorities 'bust Russian spy ring'
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
