Wurtsboro, NY – Eight people have been arrested by the federal government for allegedly carrying out long-term “deep-cover” assignments in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation, the Justice Department announced Monday.

Two others were arrested for allegedly participating in the same Russian intelligence program within the United States.

In total, 11 defendants, including the 10 arrested, are charged in two separate criminal complaints with conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States.

Among those arrested were Michael Zottoli and Patricia Mills, both of Arlington, Va.

According to federal papers, on June 8, 2006, Mills traveled to the vicinity of Wurtsboro with Zottoli where Zottoli dug up a package containing money that had been buried in the ground by another defendant, Christopher Metsos.

The charge of conspiracy to act as an act of a foreign government without notifying the US Attorney General carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. All but two of the defendants are charged with that violation.

(Source: MidHudsonNews.com)