Fact Check: Petrova was moved to federal criminal custody in May after being charged with smuggling.

Fact Check: "Petrova was moved to federal criminal custody in May after being charged with smuggling."

What We Know

Kseniia Petrova, a 31-year-old Russian national, was charged with smuggling goods into the United States, specifically biological materials, including clawed frog embryos. The charge was officially filed on May 14, 2025, as part of a criminal complaint against her (source-1). Petrova was initially taken into immigration custody on February 16, 2025, after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston from Paris. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents discovered undeclared biological materials in her luggage, leading to her arrest (source-1).

Following her arrest, Petrova spent several months in federal custody. On May 28, 2025, federal prosecutors officially unsealed the felony smuggling charge against her, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison (source-7).

Analysis

The claim that Petrova was moved to federal criminal custody in May after being charged with smuggling is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed the charge and the timeline of events, stating that Petrova was charged on May 14, 2025, which aligns with her being moved into federal criminal custody (source-1).

The details of her case, including the nature of the biological materials and the circumstances surrounding her arrest, have been reported consistently across various reputable news outlets, including NBC News and The Washington Post (source-2, source-3).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they include official statements from the U.S. Attorney's Office and detailed reporting from established news organizations. The information provided is corroborated by court records and statements from legal representatives involved in the case, which adds to the credibility of the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that "Petrova was moved to federal criminal custody in May after being charged with smuggling" is True. The evidence clearly indicates that she was charged with smuggling on May 14, 2025, and subsequently moved into federal criminal custody as part of the legal process.

Sources

1. Russian National Charged with Smuggling Biological Material Into Boston
2. Judge orders release of Harvard researcher charged with smuggling frog embryos
3. Harvard researcher is released from federal custody following smuggling charge
4. Judge Orders Release of HMS Researcher Kseniia Petrova
5. Harvard researcher charged with smuggling frog embryos
6. Petrova released on bail from federal detention, walks out of courthouse
7. Judge orders Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova released
8. Ivy League bio smuggling suspect with ties to American adversary gets break from federal judge