Grand Jury Indicts Russian-Born Harvard Scientist
Kseniia Petrova indicted by Boston grand jury on three smuggling charges over undeclared frog embryos and samples.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the charges include:
- One count of concealment of a material fact
- One count of making a false statement
- One count of smuggling goods into the United States
The indictment follows Petrova’s initial arrest in February 2025 and expands the case from the original single smuggling charge filed in May.
From Paris to ICE Detention
Petrova returned to Boston from Paris on February 16. CBP agents flagged her checked duffel bag at Logan International Airport after a canine unit alert. Inside the bag, authorities allegedly found:
- Clawed frog embryos in microcentrifuge tubes
- Embryonic samples in paraffin wells
- Mounted dyed slides
Petrova reportedly denied carrying biological material, later claiming she wasn’t sure such samples had to be declared.
Legal Defense: “Not Alive, Not Illegal”
Petrova’s defense team argues that because the embryos were not alive, they were not subject to declaration rules. A colleague had texted her a warning about declaring biological samples, which prosecutors say she ignored.
She has pleaded not guilty and filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for her nearly four-month ICE detention, which a judge later ruled was unlawful.
🇷🇺 Caught in an Immigration Crackdown
Petrova fled Russia after protesting the Ukraine war and has been part of a broader immigration crackdown affecting international students and scholars.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has backed Petrova in court filings, warning that such actions jeopardize the U.S.’s role in global scientific leadership.
“It sends a chilling message… that they risk detention, deportation, and an end to their academic career,” said Campbell.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, Petrova could face:
- Up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the smuggling charge
- Up to 5 years in prison and another $250,000 fine for each of the other two charges
Source: USA Today
