A Cypriot citizen, identified as Christopher R. Metsos, who was released on bail last week by a court in his country and is now a fugitive, is amongst 11 people formally accused of spying on behalf of Russia. According to FBI, Metsos is the only one currently not in custody while all of them face charges of conspiring to act as secret agents and nine of them are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, the indictment demanded from those accused of money laundering to return any assets used in the offense.
The indictment contains far fewer details of the alleged crimes than those who were included in the two criminal complaints filed last week and the defendants were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday. The legal development of the mysterious case came in the middle of reports revealing that American officials were meeting with Russia’s Ambassador in Washington and claims by the brother of a convicted spy in Russia that his sibling has been informed that he will be swapped for Russian nationals held in custody in the United States. According to Huffington Post, Janice Oh, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attonery Preet Bharara, declined to confirm or deny the speculation regarding an arranged spy swap between the two countries.
Last Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood, who has been assigned to the case, ordered defendant Vicky Palaez, a U.S. citizen, to remain detained until she can hear an appeal by the government of a $250,000 bail package that was approved last week by a magistrate judge. Palaez’s bail hearing was set for Friday, while her lawyer, John Rodriguez, says his client has met the conditions required for her release. Her bail conditions impose her to remain at home, wearing an electronic bracelet that will monitor her moves.
All defendants face charges of living seemingly ordinary lives in United States, while they acted as agents for the Russian government, sending secret messages and carrying out orders from their Russian contacts.
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