A United States citizen, teacher, and lecturer was slapped with 14 years of hard time in prison for a little bit of pot found in his luggage at an airport in Moscow, Russia. It’s the latest move in a series of harsh sentences dished out on Americans in the country, including WNBA star Brittney Griner.
On August 14, 2021, Marc Hilliard Fogel, then 60, was arrested at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow when half an ounce of weed (approximately 14 grams) in various forms was discovered in his luggage. Fogel was approved by a doctor in the United States for medical cannabis for chronic pain following a series of serious surgeries.
The Fogels had been teaching abroad in places including Russia for years, but they were used to less security at that airport during previous flights. Something went terribly wrong, and Fogel told his wife he’d packed 14 vape carts and put some flower in a contact lens case. He thought he could get away with stashing some in his luggage for his trip back to Russia after a trip in the U.S. The Fogels were heading back to Moscow to celebrate Marc’s 10th year of teaching the children of U.S. diplomats.
Russian police discovered the weed, and he immediately knew the country doesn’t play games when it comes to cannabis, especially when it’s a U.S. citizen. But Fogel assumed he’d be looking at deportation, or some other punishment—not hard time.
Fogel has already spent 11 months in various Russian detainment centers for his “crime.” But hearing the judge say “14 years” was a crushing moment for Fogel and his family, The Washington Post reports.
“There’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that Marc will be left behind,” Jane Fogel told The Washington Post. “It’s terrifying. I would hope that President Biden and especially first lady Jill Biden, who is an educator, realize the importance of including Marc in addition to Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.”
You can’t help but make the connections to WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner, who is currently being detained for her “crime” of a couple of vape pens. Since Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there is a “substantial proposal” to free both Griner and another unjustly detained American, Paul Whelan, Fogel’s family has hope that he might not have to sit in prison for 14 years.
Fogel was fed things like bowls of gruel and dried apricots, depending on what Russian prison he was in.
“He says what he wants in English, someone translates for him, one of his cellmates, and depending on how good their English is is how accurate of a picture we get of what is happening,” Anne Fogel said. “It’s very convoluted and it’s incredibly worrisome because we can’t really have an honest conversation. Everything goes through the censors. It’s harrowing.”
But for Marc, he wasn’t happy to hear Griner might be released before himself. “That hurt,” Marc Fogel wrote in a letter. “Teachers are at least as important as ballers.”
Reality in Russia
President Vladimir Putin ramped up punishments for citizens and tourists alike including one particular new law that dishes out sentences of up to 15 years in prison for people who distribute “false news” about the Russian military. Russia has been accused of using prison sentences as a “tool for exercising control over society” by the Centre for Eastern Studies.
The Fogels are now calling to President Joe Biden to step in and get him out of Russian prison—just as efforts are being made to free Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, CNN reports.
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, U.S.-Russian relations have obviously been strained, to say the least. It’s typical of Russia to rebrand normal U.S. citizens and athletes as drug pins, often allegedly with political motivations.
Nearly 5,000 people have already signed a petition on Change.org to free Marc Fogel from wrongful detainment in Russia.
Gruel is a mixture of hemp seed and hot water, how ironic.
OMG I remember Greenie, he was also our hook up in Russia. Calm dude and doesnt talk much . But yeah his weed is the best. He really made our stay in Russia worthwhile . He is the best if you are looking for a great time in Russia, you can reach him at ** haha420kush@gmail .com**. I will recommend him to you anytime and day. You can thank me later.
It was kinda hell before when I got here until I met this guy at the hotel who gave me this dude contact his weed were pretty cool like ones from Cali. I was forced to asked him about the weed after trying them, he is a very open minded person, he said he gets his stuffs from Amsterdam and Cali. He had other stuffs too that which I won’t mention here, you can reach him at ” local420hookup@gmailcom “
This poor woman must feel devastated how the USA has totally abandoned her while they are virtually bending over backwards to free this loser basketball playing, wife beating, America hating idiot. It’s so sad how black/lesbian privilege takes precedence over everything these days. Whatever happened to equality for all?
Why would you think it’s ok to go to another country with drugs in your procession? A teacher of all things should know better and why would you think you are that special to get away with it?? You know better and now you must pay the cost of thinking because you are American that you will get away with it!!!
If you go to a foreign country you should know their laws. If not its on you. There are states in this country that weed is illegal. Do your time Get smarter. Just because you get paid to play basketball doesn’t make you smart. Think about that the next 10 years while you are in a Russian prison. Lol
What’s with all these idiots trying to sneak in narcotics to countries with strict laws against drugs? Are these people really that stupid? I have zero sympathy for all of them. Even worse is how, once caught, they come crying to the USA to help bring them home. As far as I’m concerned they can all go fuck themselves.
Joseph, you need to remember that Murica has no shortage of idiots. In fact they have a huge surplus.
Dan, at least 80% of Americans are idiots. A once great nation has now become airhead central.
The only way I would free Brittney Griner is if could push her off the edge of a cliff and watch her fly away into the sunset. She can fly right? She has a birdbrain so I’m sure she can fly. Fly Brittney fly.
The stupidity of laws, no person should be stopped with their own medicine
This has nothing to do with drugs. This has something to with America taking McDonald’s and Walmart away from Russia in light of Ukraine. I do believe Brit is a little slow for even traveling to Russia but a vape pen with a doctors note should have been an enough for a ban from the country. How is one gram of oil giving intent to distribute vibes? God had the final say for this judge handing out these sentences. Though shall not judge or thou shall be judged!
All of y’all colorists sound stupid
This coming from the guy who says “all of y’all”.
This moronic article is the reason why so many other Americans will get locked up abroad. You have imbecile jpurnalists like thos one that encourage and justyfing americans brraking the laws of other Countries just like tje Government. The article states that he was perscribed marohuana for pain from tje doctpn in USA. AGAIN IN USA AND NOT IN RUSSIA. The article continues to say that the teacher was used to less security in tje Aeroport. That means that this moron knew that he wasbreaking the law by inntentionally bringing illegal drugs and taking advantage of less security. Why he didnot declare what he had inside his suicase? He wasbrraking the law and he got what he deserves. Thete are thousands of foreign prisoniers in Usa prisons sittong thete for some small Bd but thats the law in Usa. No special treatment anymore for Yankees. Unipolar World just ended
This moronic article is the reason why so many other Americans will get locked up abroad. You have imbecile journalists like this one that encourages and justyfies Americans to break the laws of other Countries just like the US Government. The article states that he was perscribed marihuana for pain from the Doctor in USA. AGAIN IN USA AND NOT IN RUSSIA. The article continues to say that the teacher was used to less security in the Aeroport. That means that this moron knew that he was breaking the law by inntentionally bringing illegal drugs and taking advantage of less security. Why he did not declare what he had inside his bag? He was breaking the law and he got what he deserved Thete are thousands of foreign prisoners in Usa prisons sitting there for some small BS but thats the law in Usa. No special treatment anymore for Yankees. Unipolar World just ended
It was kinda hell before when I got here until I met this guy at the hotel who gave me this dude contact his weed were pretty cool like ones from Cali. I was forced to asked him about the weed after trying them, he is a very open minded person, he said he gets his stuffs from Amsterdam and Cali. He had other stuffs too that which I won’t mention here, you can reach him at ” local420hookup@gmail com “
Thanks so much for the tasty buds @rollitupkush on telegram …we will definitely come back for more