Accused Russian Spies Plead Guilty

Posted on Jul 8, 2010

AP / Dana Verkouteren

This artist rendering from July 1 shows three Virginia-based accused spies for Russia—(from left) Patricia Mills, Michael Zottoli and Mikhail Semenko—in federal court in Alexandria, Va.

On Thursday, 10 members of an alleged Russian spy ring pleaded guilty of espionage in a New York courtroom—a move which, as previous reports suggested, could lead to a prisoner swap between Russia and the U.S. Ah, Cold War nostalgia.

BBC:

Money-laundering charges were dropped. Correspondents suggest the guilty plea may facilitate a Cold War-style prisoner exchange.

The mother of suspect Anna Chapman has said she expects her to fly home to Russia on Friday.

US and Russian officials have not confirmed or denied that assertion.

The 10 pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country”.

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