NewYou can listen to Fox News articles now!
Harvard scientists, accused of smuggling frog embryos into the U.S., were faced with additional charges Wednesday for the possibility of decades in prison for alleged failure to disclose biological materials.
Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova, 30, was indicted by a Boston federal grand jury on one count of concealing major facts, one of which smuggled goods and one false statement.
Petrova, a scientist who studies cancer research at Harvard University, was initially accused of smuggling last month and will continue to pretrial despite new charges.
Ivy League Beiio Smuggling suspect has ties to U.S. rivals and stands out from federal judges
This undated photo provided by Polina Pugacheva in April 2025 shows Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova is a researcher at Harvard University. (Polina Pugacheva via AP, file)
Researchers returned to France from holidays in February and were arrested after being stopped by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Boston Logan International Airport. Petrova told the officer that she picked up a set of ultra-fine embryos during her journey, with the purpose of using Research sample.
Petrova then informed her that her visa had been cancelled and after being arrested, she was detained by Vermont immigration officials.
Harvard University and the attorney representing Petrova did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News numbers.
Kseniia Petrova laughed after being released on bail in the U.S. Court on Thursday, June 12, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
In an April interview with the Associated Press, Petrova insisted she did not know she had the responsibility to announce the items, claiming she did not intend to sneak anything into the country.
But federal prosecutors claim that text messages on Petrova’s phone showed a colleague told scientist she was asked to announce Biomaterials According to the Department of Justice, before traveling through the TSA.
If you bring back the sample or antibody, make sure you get permission etc.,” the friend reportedly texted before the trip. “Like I sent a link to (group chat) about frog embryos, because TSA browsed my luggage at customs in Boston. ”
Russian-born Harvard University researchers accused of smuggling in federal court
Banner on the Harry Elkins Widner Memorial Library on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Sophie Park/Bloomberg)
After being arrested in Vermont, Petrova filed a petition seeking release and was later sent to Ice Detention Louisiana facilities. The judge later ruled that immigration officials’ actions were illegal, and the federal grand jury initially charged Petrova with one count of smuggling.
Click here to get the Fox News app
If convicted, Petrova faces up to 20 years in prison and fined $250,000 Smuggling chargesup to five years in prison and an additional $250,000 in charge of covering up important facts and false statements.
