Anna Fermanova: Latvian-American Arrested for Smuggling

by Jordan Yerman | July 28, 2010 at 07:30 am

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24-Year-Old Anna Fermanova Under House Arrest in Texas

Anna Fermanova, a 24-year-old beautician, is under house arrest in Plano, Texas, after being caught trying to bring three advanced rifle scopes into Russia. Media outlets jumped on the story after seeing a photo of Ms. Fermanova, calling her "America's next sexy spy" in comparison with Anna Chapman, though Fermanova is not accused of spying.

Russian bombshell Anna Chapman tangled in espionage shock

Anna Fermanova was caught at JFK airport on March 1st with a Raptor night-vision rifle scope and two advanced rifle sights hidden in a pair of UGG boots. The scopes were confiscated and Fermanova was allowed to continue on to Moscow, where her husband is based and where she spends most of the year.

Anna Fermanova Arrested after Moscow Visit

Upon her return to the US to visit her parents for her birthday, Fermanova was arrested. According to her lawyer, Fermanova bought the rifle scopes online as a present for her husband, and did not know that she was at risk of arrest after the scopes were confiscated.

She admits attempting to take the items to Russia but says they were intended for her Russian husband to use in hunting.

Her lawyer, Scott Palmer, told the Dallas Morning News: “She is quite sexy, you could say, but she is not a spy.”