PHOTOS: The Suburban New Jersey Home of the Russian Spies
Jun. 29 2010, Published 5:00 a.m. ET
In the continuing saga that unfolds like a scene from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, RadarOnline.com reveals a picture of the sleepy suburban house where two of the 11 Russian secret agents arrested by the FBI lived.
From the outside, Richard and Cynthia Murphy seemed like any other Montclair, New Jersey couple – perfectly blending into American culture in their suburban home.
The photo portrays a typical East coast family house, but since the FBI charged the Murphys with being part of a long-running Russian spy ring that dates back to the 1990’s, the world has learned that they have been leading a criminal double life.
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The couple moved into the picture-perfect New Jersey home – complete with shuttered windows, rolling lawns and shady trees – with their two children in 2008. But instead of going to bake sales and soccer practice like their neighbors, Richard and Cynthia relayed intelligence information back to Moscow and became close confidents with a prominent New York financier who provided information about foreign policy and private presidential conversations.
Neighbors described the pair as “suburbia personified,” to the New York Post. “They couldn’t have been spies,” one local told the paper in astonishment. “Look what she did with the hydrangeas.”
The Murphys – whose Russian name has not been revealed - were not the only family deep under cover. Reports state that the FBI has accused the Russian intelligence service of planting these spies throughout the United States in an effort to build relationships and gather information.
Recruits were told it would be a long term assignment and some of the couples even had children who were unaware that their parents were Russian.
“You were sent to USA for long-term service trip. Your education, your bank accounts, car, house, etc – all these serve one goal,” an intercepted message said according to the indictment from the FBI. “Fulfill your main mission, i.e. to search and develop ties in policymaking circles in US and send intels (intelligence reports) to C (Center).”