FEB. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.2

AROUND THE COUNTRYROMA,

AROUND THE COUNTRYROMA, TX.US Border Patrol reportedly captured Russian mercenarycarrying drone, 2 passports and K.By Greg Wehner,Fox NewsROMA, TX. – A Russian mercenarywas arrested by U.S. BorderPatrol agents in January afterhe illegally entered the U.S. nearRoma, Texas, according to reports.ValleyCentral.com in Harlingen,Texas reported that agentsencountered Timur Praliev afterhe crossed the Rio Grande intoTexas, carrying two passportsand ,000 on Jan. 4, 2025. Hewas ultimately arrested.A criminal complaint acquiredby the station shows that Pralievwas questioned about hiscitizenship during the encounterand stated he was a citizen ofKazakhstan.Another court document showsPraliev appeared in court withcounsel and entered a guilty pleaof knowingly and unlawfullyentering the U.S. at a place otherthan as designated by immigrationofficers.During the court hearing, AssistantU.S. Attorney Amanda Mc-Colgan reportedly told the judgePraliev was also in possession ofa drone in his backpack when hecrossed into the U.S.She added that when questioned,Praliev admitted to beinga member of the Wagner Group.The judge presiding over thecase ruled Praliev was guiltyas charged and ordered a termof imprisonment plus a specialassessment of .The station reported that whenPraliev was asked if he had anythingto say, he said “Nyet.”In 2023, the U.S. Departmentof Treasury designated theWagner group as a significanttransnational criminal organization,which resulted in sanctionsagainst the group and its supportednetwork across multiplecontinents.The Wagner Group has operatedacross several regions,including the Middle East, Africaand Venezuela, and has longcaused “no end of problems forU.S. policymakers.”Since its inception in 2014, thegroup has been considered aproxy group of the Russian stateabroad, according to the Centerfor Strategic and InternationalStudies (CSIS). The group rose toprominence during the Russianinvasion of Ukraine.The group currently has approximately50,000 personneldeployed to Ukraine, including10,000 contractors and 40,000convicts, according to U.S. officials.56 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

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