Thaindian News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. Justice Department on Monday announced that ten individuals were arrested Sunday for allegedly spying in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation.

Eight individuals were allegedly performing long-term, “deep-cover” assignments, while two others were allegedly participating in the same Russian intelligence program within the United States. No further information regarding their operations was released.

After a several year investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and the Counterespionage Section and the Office of Intelligence within the Justice Department’s National Security Division, FBI agents arrested ten of the eleven charged with conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States.

On Sunday, FBI agents arrested “Richard Murphy” and “Cynthia Murphy” at their residence in Montclair, New Jersey, Vicky Perez and “Juan Lazaro” at their residence in Yonkers, New York, and Anna Chapman at her residence in Manhattan.

“Michael Zottoli” and “Patricia Mills,” “Donald Howard Heathfield” and “Tracey Lee Ann Foley,” and Mikhail Semenko were also arrested Sunday at their residences in Alexandria, Arlington, and Boston, Virginia, respectively.

The “Murphys,” Perez, “Lazaro,” and Chapman are expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan on Monday, while the other arrested defendants are also expected in court in Virginia.

With the exception of Chapman and Semenko, the defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The charge of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the U.S. Attorney General carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, while the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The defendant known as “Christopher R. Metsos” remains at large.