UN Representative to ECOSOC Sent FBI Agent Selfies Drinking Wine now Pleads Guilty Barely

UN Representative to ECOSOC Sent FBI Agent Selfies Drinking Wine now Pleads Guilty Barely by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 19 – A woman describing herself as a UN Representative at ECOSOC was arrested on November 21, 2024 and presented in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on charges of false statements about contact with the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federal. Inner City live tweeted, thread now at US v Ms. Nomma Zarubina - an NGO "ambassador to UN ECOSOC," with Russian interpreter present. Inner City Press as only media here will report Judge: You are charged with false statements to US law enforcement about communications with Federal Security Service & official of Russian Federation.   On July 23, Chief Judge Swain prohibited any contact with Case Agents, after being told that Zarubina repeatedly texted Case Agent-1 to "start looking to massage places and long term relationships with Slavic females involving money." Full filing with more on Patreon here On September 17 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for detention, annexing 8 pages of text messages including a selfie drinking wine, all texts on Patreon here On September 18 Chief Judge Swain endorsed the parties' request that the hearing be pushed back a week to September 26 at noon, to allow a defense submission by September 22. On September 26, Chief Judge Swain said that remand would be too harsh, citing the defendant's daughter - but ordered no more alcohol. On November 20 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking to revoke bail, saying "yesterday morning the defendant called and sent 65 messages to Case Agent-1 while drunk." On December 2, "as to Nomma Zarubina, the Defendant's bail is revoked and the Defendant, Nomma Zarubina, is hereby remanded pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3148(b) to the custody of the United States Marshal pending trial. (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 12/2/2025)." On February 13, 2026 the US Attorney's Office wrote in with the defense's consent asking to set a change of plea hearing - to guilty - for February 19. Inner City Press went: Zarubina: I met with FBI agent "Neil Summers" and he scared me so I wrongly answered that I had no contact with Russian intelligence. In fact, I did have contact. It was a hard conversation. I was scared. I perplexed him Judge: Did you make a decision to have a false answer? Zarubina: No. I was scared. Judge: DId you deliberately answer falsely? Zarubina: Yes. I also made a false statement on my naturalization form [DOJ says it involves "prostitution-related offenses."] Guilty plea is accepted.  Federal Defender: Given that she will probably be deported, could she be released for a week before sentencing? AUSA: We oppose that [Zarubina is shaking her head No. Now leans far back, slumps in her chair.] AUSA: The FBI Victim in this case... There was cyber-stalking. Chief Judge Swain: The US carried its burden. Ms. Zarubina downplays her conduct. I decline to release her. Sentencing is set for June 11. The case is USA v. Zarubina, 1:25-cr-179 (Swain) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com