His tarnished service record and criminal history, some experts in espionage say, would have made it unlikely that he was an American spy.Īs the world watches the often-strained relations between the United States and Russia, David Whelan gave a wide-ranging interview about his brother, and explained what the family is doing to try to bring Paul Whelan home. He was court-martialed and discharged for bad conduct in 2008. It was during his final tour in Iraq that Whelan was charged with larceny after trying to steal $10,000 and bouncing about $6,000 in checks, according to the Washington Post. He also used another person's Social Security number in trying to advance his own rank and pay. Prior to that, he worked in global security for Troy-based Kelly Services and also served in the Marine Corps, doing two tours of duty in Iraq. Whelan is the director of global security for the Auburn Hills-based auto parts supplier BorgWarner. He was supposed to return to the United States Jan. His plan was to help the wedding party get around the city through Jan. 22, they say, to help a friend who was getting married. Rather, they say, he was a world traveler who'd made visits to Russia before and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. His family remains insistent that Whelan is not a spy. 28. If he's convicted, he could be imprisoned in Russia for up to 20 years. His court-appointed attorney, Vladimir Zherebenkov, told Interfax that bail was requested, but Whelan is to remain in custody until at least Feb. Whelan was indicted on a charge of espionage. The news service is run by the wife of a former KGB officer who has ties to Russian President Vladmir Putin, according to openDemocracy, a British-based nonprofit media organization. Whelan, 48, was arrested at Moscow's swanky Metropol hotel after allegedly receiving a USB drive loaded with the names of employees of a Russian agency, according to Russia's Rosbalt news service. View Gallery: American Paul Whelan arrested in Russia for espionage
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