Harvard scientist faces new charges for allegedly smuggling frog embryos into US

The scientist of Harvard College who was accused of smuggling Kikkerembryos in america, was overwhelmed with further federal costs on Wednesday as a result of she is confronted with the potential of a long time in jail as a result of she didn’t disclose the organic materials.

The scientist Kseniia Petrova, born in Russia, 30, was sued by a federal giant jury in Boston about one census of a cloth truth, one rely of smuggling items to the US and one rely of false rationalization.

Petrova, a scientist who studied most cancers analysis at Harvard, was initially answerable for smuggling final month and can stay pretial launch regardless of the brand new costs.

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This undated photograph of Polina Pugacheva in April 2025 exhibits Kseniia Petrova, a scientist born in Russia who was a researcher at Harvard College. (Polina Pugacheva through AP, File)

The researcher was arrested after being stopped by American customs and border safety at Boston Logan Worldwide Airport whereas returning a vacation to France in February. Petrova stated officers that she had picked up a bundle of tremendous -fine sections of Kikkerembryos throughout her journey with the intention of utilizing the samples for analysis.

Petrova was then knowledgeable that her visa was being canceled and he or she was taken into custody by immigration officers in Vermont after her arrest.

Harvard College and a lawyer who represents Petrova didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for feedback.

Decide takes a step in the direction of the potential launch of detained Russian Harvard scientist accused of smuggling

Kseniia Petrova laughs after he was launched on bail from the federal detention within the courthouse of John Joseph Moakley United States on Thursday 12 June 2025 in Boston. (AP Picture/Leah Willingham)

In an interview in April with the Related Press, Petrova insisted that she was not conscious of her duty to elucidate the gadgets and claimed that she was not going to sneak something within the nation.

Federal public prosecutors, nevertheless, declare that Petrova’s SMS messages reveal {that a} colleague has knowledgeable the scientist that she was obliged to elucidate the organic materials earlier than they traveled by way of TSA, in accordance with the Ministry of Justice.

“When you carry samples or antibody again, be sure you get permission, and many others.”, the pal Petrova reportedly despatched for her journey. “Just like the hyperlink I despatched to [the group chat] About Kikkerembryos as a result of TSA went by way of my baggage at customs in Boston. “

Russian born Harvard researcher accused of smuggling within the federal courtroom

Banners on the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library on the Harvard College Campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday 27 Could 2025. (Sophie Park/Bloomberg)

After her arrest in Vermont, Petrova submitted a petition to hunt her launch and was later despatched to an ice detention facility in Louisiana. A choose later dominated that the actions of the immigration officers have been unlawful, with a federal giant jury that Petrova initially led with one rely of smuggling.

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If convicted, Petrova stands for a most of 20 years in jail and a high-quality of $ 250,000 for smuggling, and as much as 5 years in jail and one other $ 250,000 on accusation of hiding materials information and false statements.