Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for over 5 months on drug-related charges. She faced up to 10 years in a Russian prison. Unfortunately, she has been found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Prior to her sentencing, in an emotional statement, she asked the courts to be lenient on her sentence. "I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here," Griner said in the Khimki city courthouse. "I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn't end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom.
"I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime," she added.
The US has classified Griner as wrongfully detained and are working on a prisoner trade by offering to free convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Brittney Griner.