Indictment returned in New York charging 11 defendants in Russian spy case

NY indictment returned against 11 in spy case

NEW YORK — An indictment has been returned in New York against 11 defendants accused of spying for Russia.

The indictment unsealed in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday charges all 11 defendants with conspiring to act as secret agents in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation.

Nine of the defendants were also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The 11 defendants who were arrested last week already faced the same charges in criminal complaints.

The defendants were accused of living seemingly ordinary lives in America while they acted as unregistered agents for the Russian government, sending secret messages and carrying out orders they received from their Russian contacts.