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A Moscow court has sentenced Eugene “Gene” Spector, a US citizen and former chair of Russia’s Medpolymerprom Group, to 15 years in prison for espionage and leaking biotechnological data to foreign parties.

According to information obtained by CABS World News correspondent, the court also imposed a 14 million-ruble fine (approximately $135,000) as part of his punishment.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Spector of gathering and transmitting biomedical and biotechnological data, including classified materials, to entities allegedly linked to the Pentagon and a related commercial organization.

The FSB claims the data was intended to create a high-speed genetic screening system capable of analyzing Russia’s population.

In a statement on Friday, the FSB alleged, “The American national, acting in the interest of the Pentagon and a commercial organization affiliated with it, gathered and handed over to a foreign party various biotechnological and biomedical data, including classified materials, with the aim of creating a high-speed genetic screening system of Russia’s population by the US.”

Spector’s sentencing follows a previous 2022 conviction where he was sentenced to 3.5 years for acting as an intermediary in a bribery case involving a Russian government official. The court found that Spector had provided free travel vouchers to an aide of former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich to promote products from pharmacy companies.

Last August, Spector was arrested again on suspicion of espionage, though details of the case were initially withheld.

This sentencing comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Russia and the US, especially following the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Accusations of espionage have increased, with both nations expelling diplomats and accusing them of intelligence activities.

Earlier this year, the US and Russia conducted their largest prisoner swap since the Cold War, exchanging 26 individuals. Among those returned to the US were Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan, both convicted of espionage in Russia. In return, ten Russians accused by the US of cybercrimes and intelligence work were sent back to Moscow.