Washington, July 2 (DPA) One of the individuals accused of participating in a Russian spy ring in the US has admitted to his role as several of the suspects made court appearances Thursday.
Citing prosecutors, CNN reported online that a suspect who went by the name Juan Lazaro admitted during questioning that he was involved in activities that included spying on Russia’s behalf and expressed no regrets.
He admitted that he falsified his name and also admitted that he used wife and co-defendant Vicky Palaez to pass letters to the Russians. Lazaro was appearing Thursday in a New York federal court with his wife and two others.
US authorities arrested 10 individuals Sunday on charges of acting illegally as an agent of a foreign government. Some also face charges of money laundering. The first charge carries a maximum five-year sentence and the second charge 20 years. Those arrested include four couples.
An 11th suspect was captured in Cyprus Tuesday but subsequently fled after being released on bail.
A massive manhunt was underway for Robert Christopher Metsos, 55, on the Mediterranean island, as US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the US was ‘disappointed’ he was released on bail in the first place.
Meanwhile, one couple, Donald Heathfield and Tracey Lee Ann Foley, appeared in a Massachusetts courtroom, where a judge denied bail pending a hearing July 16, the Boston Globe reported. They two waved and nodded to their children during the appearance, the newspaper reported online.
One suspect appeared in a New York court earlier this week and the three others had been scheduled to go before a judge in a courtroom just outside Washington, but that hearing was delayed until Friday, CNN reported.
