By Canadian Press

Russian sentenced to 18 months for being agent for Kremlin

Apr 26, 2019 | 8:36 AM

WASHINGTON — A Russian woman who admitted to being a secret agent for the Kremlin has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Maria Butina has been jailed since her July 2018 arrest and will get credit for time served. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also ordered Butina deported after she completes her sentence.

Chutkan said she was imposing the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offence and to promote deterrence.

Butina pleaded guilty last year to a conspiracy charge and admitted she covertly gathered intelligence on the National Rifle Association and other groups at the direction of a former Russian lawmaker.

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Butina said she was “ashamed and embarrassed” by her own actions.

Ashraf Khalil, The Associated Press