Russian spies sought to make children agents in America
Russian agents sought to recruit American children as spies.
Russian sleeper agents sought to recruit American children as spies to carry out espionage in the US.
New details surrounding the Russian sleeper cell deported from the US in 2010 reveal that their aim was to recruit Russian-American children — as well as their own — to carry out espionage.
The Wall Street Journal reported that it was believed the children could more easily acquire US government background checks later in life.
Other details say that the spies, once believed to be largely ineffective, had infiltrated large consulting firms in New York, said the Globe and Mail.
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The most well-groomed young spy was Tim Foley, who was in his sophomore year at George Washington University when his parents were arrested.
It was believed that he knew about his parents' double life and that he would also one day become a spy, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Russian sleeper ring was based in the New York, New Jersey and Washington DC suburbs.
At the time, it was reported that the 11 spies even had children together to bolster their ties to the United States, reported the Atlantic.
They all pleaded guilty to espionage and were sent back to Russia in 2010.
It was the largest espionage case in the United States since the Cold War.