Harvard scientist from Russia charged with smuggling frog embryos into U.S., sent to federal prison
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard Medical School researcher from Russia, has been charged with smuggling for attempting to bring frog embryos into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts said.
Petrova was detained at Boston Logan Airport on February 16 after failing to declare frog embryo samples on her customs form. If convicted of the smuggling charges, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Following the charges, Petrova — who had been held in an immigration detention facility — was transferred to a federal prison. Her attorneys told ABC News that the transfer occurred shortly before an immigration hearing at which they planned to request her release on bail.
Her attorney, Gregory Romanovsky, said he believes the case amounts to an alleged customs violation, which should carry a fine — not visa cancellation and detention. “No matter how tough the government wants to be on immigration enforcement, they have to follow the law,” he told ABC News. “The law does not allow this.”
Petrova was detained upon returning to the U.S. from a personal trip to France. During questioning by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, she said she feared persecution if deported to Russia due to her anti-war views and criticism of the Kremlin.