U.S. Citizen Gene Spector Sentenced to 15 Years by Moscow Court for Collecting Genetic Data for Pentagon

Dec 27, 2024, 07:41 AM

Gene Spector, a U.S. citizen, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Moscow court after being convicted of espionage. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that Spector collected medical data of Russian citizens to assist the Pentagon in developing a genetic screening system. This conviction follows Spector's prior imprisonment for bribery, and he has been held in custody since September 2022. The case has raised concerns about potential hostage diplomacy, as the Kremlin may use Spector to negotiate the release of Russians detained in the West. The sentencing highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia amid allegations of espionage and intelligence gathering.