Boston - A Russian-born scientist and Harvard researcher, who is already facing deportation back to Russia, was charged Wednesday with attempting to smuggle frog embryos into the country. Kseniia Petrova, 30, was taken to the U.S. immigration and customs enforcement agency in Louisiana after being arrested in February. She continued to wait for the judge’s decision on whether she would be deported to Russia, and she feared she would be imprisoned or worse. A hearing on her case was held in Vermont Wednesday.

But in the latest lawsuit in the case, federal prosecutors accused her of committing a conviction of a cargo in the United States. It said she was detained Wednesday. If convicted, Petrova faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Petrova's attorney could not be contacted for comment. It is not clear whether she is moving from the ice rink.

Petrova has been on vacation in France, where she parked in a laboratory dedicated to splicing superfine parts of frog embryos and obtained a set of samples for research.

Petrova was asked about the sample as she passed the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Points checkpoint at Boston Logan International Airport. Petrova told the Associated Press in an interview last month that she did not realize the need to announce the items and did not try to sneak in. After the trial, Petrova was told that her visa had been cancelled.

Petrova said: “The truth is on my side.

In a statement on social platform X, the Department of Homeland Security said that Petrova “lied to federal officials to load the material into the country.” They alleged on their phone that the news “disclosed her plan to smuggle materials through customs without announcing.”

Federal prosecutors said Petrova was stopped by the director of Customs and Border Protection after the law enforcement dog alerted her checked duffel bag. After examination, frog embryos were found in the foam box. Prosecutors said she initially denied carrying any biological materials in the inspection of the luggage, but later admitted it.

Petrova's boss and mentor Leon Peshkin said in an interview last month that the sample was not dangerous or biologically harmful.

"I don't think she did anything wrong," Peshkin told the Associated Press. "But even if she does, she should be warned at most, or a fine of up to $500."

Harvard University said in a statement that the university "continues to monitor the situation."

Petrova told the Associated Press that she left her country to avoid conflict or possible political repression. She ran away Russia invades Ukraine February 2022, this is the beginning of a bloody Three Years War.

"If I go back, I'm afraid I'll be imprisoned for my political status and my position against the war," Petrova said.

Petrova's case has received close attention from the scientific community, and some fears it will affect the recruitment and retention of foreign scientists at American universities.

"I think there is a false view that foreign scientists are privileged to some extent in the United States. I think the opposite is true," Peshkin said. "Foreign scientists come here with gifts... They are highly skilled experts and they need. They enrich the American scientific community."