Russian 'Honeytrap' Spy Nomma Zarubina Faces Five Years in US Prison
Nomma Zarubina, a 35-year-old Russian woman, is currently detained in a New York jail awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of lying to the FBI about her contacts with the FSB, Russia's primary domestic intelligence service. This case highlights a resurgence of cold war-era espionage tactics, where operatives use personal allure to infiltrate influential circles.
Espionage Activities and Network Building
Zarubina, known by the code name "Alyssa" to her Russian handlers, was tasked with meeting prominent Americans at seminars, forums, and conventions across academia, foreign policy, government, and media sectors. Her objective was to identify potential contacts for the FSB, who could then be invited to Russia to be swayed towards Russian ideologies. Born in Siberia, she worked as a representative to the UN for the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the US and spoke at events organized by the Free Nations of Post-Russia in Washington and Ottawa.
However, her activities were a facade for espionage. Zarubina pleaded guilty to making false statements regarding her relationship with the FSB and to naturalization fraud for concealing involvement in prostitution-related offenses. James Barnacle, assistant director of the FBI's New York office, condemned her actions as an affront to national security efforts.
Connections and Arrest
Zarubina entered the US in 2016 and was recruited by the FSB by 2020, receiving a code name and instructions for "network marketing." In 2020, she was interviewed by the FBI in Brooklyn as part of an investigation into Elena Branson, her daughter's godmother, who was later charged as an unregistered foreign agent. Branson had connections to high-profile figures, including correspondence with Vladimir Putin and founding a Russian propaganda center in New York.
Zarubina was arrested in December 2024 on charges of making false statements. Her case follows a pattern of Russian women involved in spying, such as Maria Butina, arrested in 2018 for infiltrating the National Rifle Association, and Anna Chapman, arrested in 2010 as a sleeper agent and later involved in a prisoner exchange.
Flirtatious Texts and Additional Charges
After her arrest, Zarubina sent numerous flirtatious and threatening texts to an FBI agent, including messages like "Catch me baby" and "I am sooooo bad." Despite judicial warnings, she continued this behavior, texting 65 times in one night in November 2025. Prosecutors later added charges related to interstate transport of women for prostitution, involving a massage parlor in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
In court, Zarubina admitted to developing feelings for the FBI agent, claiming he emotionally controlled her. She denied being a spy, stating she communicated with the FBI because they operate similarly to Russians, framing people and building cases.
Expert Analysis and Sentencing
Chris Costa, executive director of the International Spy Museum, compared Zarubina to Butina and Chapman, noting that while Chapman was caught due to operational errors, Zarubina's role involved network building, making a case for lying to the FBI a last resort. Filip Kovacevic, a professor specializing in Russian intelligence, suggested that as an FSB operative, Zarubina was likely directed to honeytrap targets, leveraging her connections to prostitution.
Zarubina is scheduled for sentencing in June and could face up to five years in prison on each count. If deported, she may face repercussions from the FSB for not denying her involvement as instructed. Her case underscores the blurred lines between intelligence operations and professional networking, with honeypotting tactics remaining a contentious issue in modern espionage.
