One suspect released, 9 held in Russian spy case
A woman accused of being a Russian spy was ordered released and placed under home arrest on Thursday, but nine other suspects in an espionage case that has revived Cold War memories remained in federal custody.
A New York judge ruled that Vicky Pelaez, a columnist for the New York Spanish-language daily El Diario, be freed on bond but held in her home and monitored electronically.
Authorities say Peruvian-born Pelaez and 10 other alleged spies spent a decade living quiet lives in U.S. cities and suburbs, all the while recruiting political sources and gathering information for the Russian government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis denied bail to Richard and Cynthia Murphy of Montclair, New Jersey, saying evidence was «strong that the Murphys are agents of foreign government who have used false identification.»
The 10 people — plus one arrested in Cyprus — adopted false identities and spent years trying to gather non-classified information, the Justice Department said.
In a case that reads like a spy novel, the group dubbed the «Illegals» received training in coded communications, covertly passing information and evading detection.
Also on Thursday, a detention hearing in New York for suspect Juan Lazaro was postponed, as was a hearing in Alexandria, Virginia for suspects Michael Zolotti, Patricia Mills and Mikhail Semenko that was to resume on Friday.
Prosecutors said the case was «extraordinarily strong» and cited new evidence, such as $80,000 cash they say was found in a safety deposit box belonging to Lazaro and Pelaez, a married couple who lived in Yonkers, New York.
