Frog Embryos Behind Russian Scientist’s Harvard Smuggling Charges as Judge Clears Researcher
Charges after airport questioning
Customs officials questioned the researcher at Logan International Airport after she brought frog embryos into the country for Harvard Medical School cancer research. Authorities charged her with smuggling, concealing facts and making false statements to federal officials.
The Department of Homeland Security had defended her detention, alleging she lied to federal officers about the embryos. The article does not give the researcher’s first name, referring to her as Petrova elsewhere.
Visa ruling weakened prosecution
The prosecution faltered in April when a federal judge ruled that a customs officer had improperly canceled Petrova’s visa. She had expressed fear that she could be deported to Russia and imprisoned there.
In filings, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley pointed to the April ruling, which gave defense lawyers broad access to government records about comparable customs encounters involving undeclared items.
Judge dismisses the case
U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin dismissed the charges on Wednesday without a hearing. Sorokin was nominated by former President Barack Obama.
Key points
- Prosecutors dropped all charges against the Russian researcher.
- The case concerned frog embryos brought through Boston’s Logan International Airport for Harvard cancer research.
- A judge had ruled that a customs officer improperly canceled Petrova’s visa.
- Judge Leo Sorokin dismissed the charges on Wednesday without a hearing.