Ten alleged secret agents arrested in U.S. for spying on behalf of Russia

  Departamentul de justitie american a anuntat astazi ca zece persoane (din cele 11 puse sub acuzare) au fost arestate pentru spionaj in favoarea Rusiei, intr-o operatiune care dureaza de aproape zece ani. Cei arestati se pare ca aveau misiunea de a se infiltra in cercurile strategistilor politici americani, incercand sa afle informatii precum: politicile Statelor Unite fata de Afganistan si programul nuclear Iranian,  noul tratat americano-rus cu privire la armament, schimbarile din pozitiile cheie de conducere ale CIA, pozitiile de unde SUA isi coordoneaza armele, informatii cu privire la ultimele alegeri prezidentiale,  cele din congres sau in interiorul partidelor politice. FBI-ul a interceptat se pare mesaje care defineau clar misiunea si rolul acestor agenti. Metodele folosite pentru a-si desfasura activitatea erau: de la  folosirea de cerneala transparenta, documente de calarorie si identitate false, pana la transmisiuni radio sau wireless intre computere aflate la distante apropiate, sau mesaje codate transmise in imagini postate pe siteuri publice.
Arestarile vin pe fondul unor intalniri aparent fructuase in ultimele zile intre Obama si Medvedev, acesta din urma fiind in vizita in SUA, iar apoi la summitul G20 din Canada.

 (foto: Anna Chapman-rusoaica spion)

U.S. Department of Justice announced today that eight individuals were arrested Sunday for allegedly carrying out long-term, “deep-cover” assignments in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation, the Justice Department announced today. Two additional defendants were also arrested Sunday for allegedly participating in the same Russian intelligence program within the United States.

In total, 11 defendants, including the 10 arrested, are charged in two separate criminal complaints with conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States. Federal law prohibits individuals from acting as agents of foreign governments within the United States without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General. Nine of the defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The defendants known as “Richard Murphy” and “Cynthia Murphy” were arrested yesterday by FBI agents at their residence in Montclair, N.J., and are expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan today. Vicky Pelaez and the defendant known as “Juan Lazaro” were arrested yesterday at their residence in Yonkers, N.Y., and are expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan today. Anna Chapman was arrested in Manhattan yesterday and is expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan today.

The defendants known as “Michael Zottoli” and “Patricia Mills” were arrested yesterday at their residence in Arlington, Va., and are appearing in federal court in Alexandria, Va., today. Defendant Mikhail Semenko was arrested yesterday at his residence in Arlington and is appearing in federal court in Alexandria today. In addition, the defendants known as “Donald Howard Heathfield” and “Tracey Lee Ann Foley” were arrested at their residence in Boston yesterday and are appearing in federal court in Boston today. The defendant known as “Christopher R. Metsos” remains at large.

The charges are filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 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. All the defendants are charged with this violation. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. All the defendants except Chapman and Semenko are charged with this violation.

This case is the result of a multi-year investigation conducted 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.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Farbiarz, Glen Kopp and Jason Smith of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and Trial Attorneys Kathleen Kedian and Richard Scott of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The charges and allegations contained in the criminal complaints are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
source: U.S. DOJ 

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Kamaradul J. acuza