Vicky Peláez

Virginia "Vicky" Peláez Ocampo (born 1956 in Cuzco, Peru)[1] is a Peruvian journalist and columnist, currently for The Moscow News newspaper. She is known for pleading guilty on 8 July 2010 for working in the United States as an unregistered foreign agent for Russia. She is also known for her leftist writings in El Diario La Prensa, a New York City Spanish language newspaper. Prior to working in the United States, Peláez was one of the first female television reporters in Peru where she reported for Frecuencia Latina.[4]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Peláez and the second or maternal family name is Ocampo.
Vicky Peláez
Photo taken by U.S. Marshals
Born1956 (age 64–65)
Cuzco, Peru[1]
OccupationJournalist and agent of the Russian Federation
Known forInvolvement with Russian Illegals Program
Criminal charge(s)Conspiracy to act as an unlawful agent of a foreign government[2]
Criminal penaltyTime served (11 days)
Criminal statusDeported to Russia[3]
Spouse(s)Mikhail Vasenkov (a.k.a. Juan Lazaro)
ChildrenWaldo Mariscal
Juan Lazaro Jr.

Career

Peláez was one of the few women journalists in Peru in the 1980s and established a reputation as a "colorful" reporter for Frecuencia Latina (Channel 2) in Lima.[4] The Peruvian magazine Teleguía called her "the most aggressive journalist on TV."[4] The Peruvian CNN journalist Claudia Rebaza described Peláez in this period as a controversial figure, known for interjecting herself into stories and for a sensationalist style.[4]

In 1984, Peláez and her cameraman Percy Raborg were kidnapped by the Peruvian rebel group Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA). MRTA demanded Frecuencia Latina air a propaganda video in exchange for the release of Peláez and Raborg. The station agreed to air the video and Peláez and Raborg were released hours after airing.[4] Raborg has since stated that Peláez was a willing participant in the kidnapping.[5]

Peláez moved to the United States shortly after the MRTA incident.[5] She worked for the New York-based El Diario La Prensa for more than two decades.[4] Her far-left writings[6] were critical of United States foreign policy and strongly supportive of Latin American leaders Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro.[4][7] At the time of her arrest, Peláez was a resident of Yonkers, New York.[6]

Illegals Program
Main article: Illegals Program
Mikhail A. Vasenkov (Juan Lazaro)

In June 2010, Peláez, along with her husband Mikhail Anatolyevich Vasenkov (Михаил Анатольевич Васенков, alias Juan Lazaro) and nine others, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the U.S. Attorney General.[8] The operations of this group was dubbed by American authorities as the "Illegals Program" directed by Russia. Waldo Mariscal, the eldest son of Peláez, claimed the U.S. government was persecuting his parents for their political views.[5]

On 8 July 2010, Peláez pleaded guilty to working in the United States as an unregistered foreign agent for Russia, and agreed to be deported and never return, in exchange for the U.S. dropping the more serious charge of money laundering and waiving any jail time.[3]

On 10 July, Peláez and Vasenkov were two of ten Russian agents who were exchanged for four prisoners held by Russia in an elaborate U.S.-Russian deal. They were returned to their handlers in Moscow along with the other traded Russian spies.[9][10] Peláez and Vasenkov expressed a desire to leave Russia and go to Peru.[11] La República reported that the couple permanently moved to Peru in December 2013.[12]

Aftermath

Since August 2011, Peláez has been a contributor to The Moscow News.[13]

References
  1. Correal, Annie; Lobogerrero, Cristina (2 July 2010). "Vicky Peláez: Life of an Alleged Spy". El Diario La Prensa. New Media America. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  2. "Suspected Russian spies charged in US". BBC News. 29 June 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  3. Serrano, Richard A. (9 July 2010). "Spy suspects are traded to Russia after guilty pleas". Los Angeles Times.
  4. Kavanagh, Jim (29 June 2010). "Alleged Russian agent was dramatic TV reporter in Peru". CNN.
  5. Gonzalez, Juan (30 June 2010). "Vicky Pelaez, caught in alleged Russian spy ring, lived life in spotlight as El Diario columnist". Daily News (New York).
  6. Jillian Scharr & Juan DeJesus, Vicky Pelaez: Journalist, Radical, Russian Spy?: Judge Releases Pelaez on Bail, WNBC (2 July 2010).
  7. McCune, Marrianne (29 June 2010). "Colleagues of Alleged Spy Vicky Pelaez 'Can't Believe It'". WNYC.
  8. Manny Fernandez and Fernanda Santos (29 June 2010). "Couples Accused as Spies Were Suburbs Personified". New York Times.
  9. Mary Beth Sheridan & Andrew Higgins, U.S. and Russia complete spy swap, Washington Post (10 July 2010).
  10. Mary Beth Sheridan & Jerry Markon, U.S., Russia reach deal on exchanging spies, Washington Post (9 July 2010).
  11. Usborne, David (9 August 2010). "Former spy 'is not Russian and wants to go to Peru'". The Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  12. Cusco: Espía ruso Mijaíl Vasenkov y su esposa habrían regresado al Perú, Peru.com (20 March 2013).
  13. Vicky Pelaez The list of her articles published in The Moscow News.
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