Ex-U.S. Paratrooper and Rock Musician Sentenced to 13 Years in Russia for Drugs

A former U.S. paratrooper and rock musician detained in Russia over a year ago on drugs charges was sentenced to 13 years in jail on Thursday, according to Moscow’s courts service.

Michael Travis Leake, who was the frontman of Moscow-based rock band Lovi Noch, was arrested in June 2023 after prosecutors alleged he had organized a drug dealing operation involving young people. Details of the case were shared by Moscow’s Khamovnitchesky court on Telegram, which convicted him of offenses related to the sale of illegal narcotics.

Leake has been sentenced to 13 years in Russia’s strict regime colony. Alongside him, another defendant, Veronika Grabanchuk, was also jailed for drug-related offenses, though her connection to Leake remains unclear.

Arrests of U.S. citizens in Russia have seemingly increased in recent years, a trend seen by Washington as a strategy by the Kremlin to negotiate the release of Russians held abroad. Michael Travis Leake’s case is among several involving American citizens currently in Russian detention.

Some notable cases include former marines Robert Gilman and Paul Whelan, as well as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. On Thursday, court officials announced that closing arguments in Gershkovich’s espionage trial would be held the following day. Gershkovich’s employer has condemned the trial as fraudulent, and the U.S. State Department has labeled his detention wrongful.

Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, on accusations of collecting classified information on behalf of the United States. The Russian authorities claimed he was caught red-handed conducting espionage activities for the CIA, though no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.

Russia has hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange involving Gershkovich. However, officials have stated that a verdict would need to be reached first. Even then, the process could still take months or even years to materialize.

Given the spate of arrests and detentions of U.S. citizens, the White House has issued warnings to Americans still in Russia, advising them to leave the country immediately due to the risk of wrongful arrest.

Source: CBS News