Russian Spy Sentenced After Bizarre Drunk Texts to FBI Agent
A Russian intelligence operative who attempted to infiltrate influential American thinktanks has been imprisoned following a series of intoxicated text messages sent to an FBI agent, including the phrase "catch me baby." Nomma Zarubina, aged 35, was working for the FSB, Russia's primary security agency and successor to the KGB, when her espionage activities were uncovered by United States authorities.
Espionage Operation and Arrest
Zarubina, operating under the codename "Alyssa," was recruited by the FSB in her hometown of Tomsk and tasked with influencing powerful US thinktanks to promote pro-Russian viewpoints. Her mission involved attending international relations conferences across the United States, as evidenced by photographs on her social media profiles. Additionally, her LinkedIn page listed her as working for a UN-affiliated non-profit organisation called Hope.
Prosecutors revealed that Zarubina had been arrested a year prior to the text message incident and was accused of lying to the FBI about the extent of her connections to the Kremlin in 2024. Further charges were later added, alleging her involvement in transporting women for prostitution purposes.
Drunk Text Messages and Harassment
While awaiting trial, Zarubina's bail was revoked due to her harassment of an investigator on her case. Screenshots presented in court showed she sent sexually suggestive messages to an FBI agent, including the three-word text "catch me baby." In a particularly intense episode during November 2025, she texted the agent 65 times in a single night, expressing sentiments such as "I love you" and resorting to insults when she received no response.
In another exchange, Zarubina compared herself to Maria Butina, another female Russian agent known for infiltrating influential circles in the United States, remarking, "I guess Butina got more attention." This comparison highlighted her awareness of similar espionage cases.
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Prosecutors agreed to drop the prostitution-related charges in exchange for Zarubina pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI and lying on her naturalisation application. She now faces up to five years in prison on each charge, with her sentencing scheduled for June 11. This plea deal underscores the seriousness with which US authorities treat such national security breaches.
Official Statements on the Case
US Attorney Jay Clayton commented on the case, stating, "While Nomma Zarubina was trying to cultivate relationships with American law enforcement, civil society organizations, and others, she was lying to the FBI about her ties to the Russian Federation. Today’s plea demonstrates our commitment to protecting the integrity of the naturalisation process and reinforces that those who lie to federal authorities will incur serious consequences."
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle added, "After years of lies, Nomma Zarubina finally confessed to her repeated denial to FBI special agents of her contacts and relationship with Russian intelligence services, as well as to her failure to disclose her involvement in an interstate prostitution network in an effort to secure U.S. citizenship. Zarubina’s intentional concealment of her misconduct and her lies about her affiliation with Russian intelligence were an affront to law enforcement’s national security efforts. The FBI continues to defend our homeland from those who seek to impede federal investigations and deceive U.S. authorities."
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by US agencies in countering foreign espionage and the unconventional methods sometimes employed by operatives, as seen in Zarubina's drunk-texting episode that ultimately contributed to her downfall.
