A Russian spy ring has been busted in New York City, with the arrest of Evgeny Buryakov, a/k/a “Zhenya,” a bank employee who worked under “non-official cover” in Manhattan.
According to a joint statement from Attorney General Eric Holder, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, and FBI Assistant Director Randall Coleman, Buryakov was charged in connection with his service as a covert intelligence agent on behalf of the Russian Federation in New York City.
The charges were announced in a press release earlier today, with Buryakov being placed under arrest earlier today in Bronx, New York, and scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court later today.
“These charges demonstrate our firm commitment to combating attempts by covert agents to illegally gather intelligence and recruit spies within the United States,” Attorney General Holder said. “We will use every tool at our disposal to identify and hold accountable foreign agents operating inside this country – no matter how deep their cover.”
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Following our previous prosecution with the FBI of Russian spies, who were expelled from the United States in 2010 when their plan to infiltrate upper levels of U.S. business and government was revealed, the arrest of Evgeny Buryakov and the charges against him and his co-defendants make clear that – more than two decades after the presumptive end of the Cold War – Russian spies continue to seek to operate in our midst under cover of secrecy.”
Bharara continued, “Indeed, the presence of a Russian banker in New York would in itself hardly draw attention today, which is why these alleged spies may have thought Buryakov would blend in. What they could not do without drawing the attention of the FBI was engage in espionage. New York City may be more hospitable to Russian businessmen than during the Cold War, but my Office and the FBI remain vigilant to the illegal intelligence-gathering activities of other nations.”
FBI Assistant Director Randall Coleman said, “This investigation is one of many that highlight the determined and prolific efforts by foreign governments to target Americans for the purposes of collecting intelligence and stealing secrets. This case is especially egregious as it demonstrates the actions of a foreign intelligence service to integrate a covert intelligence agent into American society un
Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin said, “The attempt by foreign nations to illegally gather economic and other intelligence information in the United States through covert agents is a direct threat to the national security of the United States, and it exemplifies why counterespionage is a top priority of the National Security Division.”
The charges against Buryakov, Igor Sporyshev, and Victor Podobnyy are a significant blow to the Russian intelligence community and demonstrate the commitment of U.S. law enforcement to protecting national security.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
ðŸâ€â€™ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News