Additional Coverage:
- U.S. soldier has sentence reduced for threats of murder and stealing by court in Russia (nbcnews.com)
Vladivostok, Russia — A U.S. soldier imprisoned in Russia has had his sentence slightly reduced, according to state media reports. Staff Sgt.
Gordon Black, 34, was initially sentenced to three years and nine months last June on charges of making threats and theft. A court on Monday shaved seven months off his sentence, bringing it down to three years and two months.
Black’s legal troubles began in May 2024 during a trip to Vladivostok to visit his Russian girlfriend. He was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her following a domestic dispute.
In addition to the prison sentence, Black was ordered to pay a small fine. While one appeal was unsuccessful, the 9th Court of Cassation agreed to the sentence reduction.
At the time of his arrest, Black was on leave from his post in South Korea, where he was stationed with the Eighth Army at Camp Humphreys. He was supposed to return to his home base at Fort Cavazos, Texas, but instead traveled to Russia without obtaining the required travel clearance.
The case has raised questions given the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia. Several Americans have been detained in Russia in recent years, though officials in Vladivostok have maintained that Black’s case is solely a criminal matter unrelated to politics or espionage.
Black, originally from southern Illinois, has a history of military service including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.