Suspected Russian Mole Jailed After Flirty Texts to FBI Agent

Nomma Zarubina pleaded guilty to lying to the feds after drunkenly messaging the agent, "Catch me, baby."

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A 35-year-old Brooklyn woman named Nomma Zarubina, who was originally arrested in 2024 on charges of lying about her dealings with Kremlin spies, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI and immigration officials. Zarubina was released on bail but later jailed after she drunkenly texted an FBI agent, "Catch me, baby," and continued to harass him despite warnings to stop.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about Russian influence operations targeting the U.S. government, media, and other institutions. Zarubina's alleged attempts to infiltrate political and media circles raise questions about the ongoing threat of foreign adversaries seeking to sow discord and influence American affairs.

The details

Zarubina was first arrested in November 2024 for fibbing about her contacts with Russian spies. She was released on bail but later jailed in December 2025 after the FBI agent she had been texting reported her flirtatious and harassing messages, including one where she said "Catch me, baby." Zarubina also name-dropped Maria Butina, a Russian agent who served prison time for infiltrating conservative networks. Prosecutors say Zarubina admitted to working for the Kremlin since 2020 under the code name "Alyssa" and was tasked with networking at think tanks, the military, and with journalists.

  • Zarubina was first arrested in November 2024.
  • She was jailed in December 2025 after the FBI agent reported her harassing text messages.
  • Zarubina pleaded guilty on Thursday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Nomma Zarubina

A 35-year-old Brooklyn resident who was arrested for lying about her dealings with Kremlin spies.

Maria Butina

A Russian agent who served 15 months in prison for infiltrating conservative networks to influence U.S. Republican politics.

Dmitry Valuev

The president of Russian America for Democracy in Russia, an organization that had flagged Zarubina as suspicious for years.

Elena Branson

Zarubina's close friend who was indicted in 2022 for allegedly spreading Russian foreign influence through an organization called the Russian Center New York.

Laura Swain

The judge who ruled that Zarubina had breached the conditions of her release by continuing to drink and harass the FBI agent.

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What they’re saying

“Catch me baby,”

— Nomma Zarubina (United States Attorney Southern District of New York)

“I am sooooo bad,”

— Nomma Zarubina (United States Attorney Southern District of New York)

“I guess Butina got more attention,”

— Nomma Zarubina (United States Attorney Southern District of New York)

“He influenced me. I don't know how — how to explain that. But my life became so different after I met him. And it's not something bad, it's not something negative, but it's obviously that he just, like, controlled me emotionally.”

— Nomma Zarubina (United States Attorney Southern District of New York)

“My life now seems like a tragedy because I get almost every day threats from many people from many countries who think that I was a spy but they don't know the whole story.”

— Nomma Zarubina (United States Attorney Southern District of New York)

What’s next

Zarubina is expected to be deported as a result of her felony conviction. She faces up to 10 years in prison at her sentencing on June 11, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of foreign influence operations targeting the U.S. government, media, and other institutions. It also raises questions about the handling of suspected foreign assets, the role of emotional manipulation, and the challenges of combating covert influence campaigns.