MOSCOW, April 22 (Reuters) – A Russian court has reduced the sentence of Robert Woodland, a U.S. citizen, from 12-1/2 years to 9-1/2 years for his involvement in drug trafficking, according to his lawyer.
Woodland was convicted in July 2024 for attempting to sell mephedrone, a stimulant drug similar to amphetamine, after he was caught transporting approximately 50 grams to a safe location in Moscow. Prosecutors stated that Woodland had partially admitted to his guilt.
The reason for the reduction in his sentence has not been disclosed as of now.
Born in Russia in 1991 and adopted by American parents as a toddler, Woodland returned to Russia as an adult to reconnect with his biological mother. He shared his personal story in an interview with a Russian newspaper in 2020.
Woodland is one of several Americans who remain imprisoned in Russia following a prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington earlier this month. This exchange involved the release of Ksenia Karelina, a dual Russian-U.S. citizen who was serving a treason sentence, and Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian citizen accused of exporting sensitive U.S. microelectronics to Russia.
In a separate case, another Russian court recently reduced the sentence of U.S. soldier Gordon Black, who had been jailed for stealing $113 from his girlfriend and threatening to kill her.
