By Simone Sebastian and Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN FEDERAL COURT — Ten Russian spies pleaded guilty to acting as foreign agents to the Russian Federation and were put on a plane to Moscow Thursday night, setting in motion a spy swap between the U.S. and Russia.
In return for the freedom of the spies, Russia will release four people imprisoned there for "alleged contact with Western intelligence agencies," court documents said.
The spies pleaded guilty to the charge of "conspiracy to act in the United States as an agent of a foreign government, namely, the Russian Federation," on Thursday.
Thursday's court appearance marked the last day in Manhattan for Anna Chapman. The redheaded Russian lived a lavish life during her two years in the city. She frequentled some of the city's most exclusive nightclubs and lived in a swanky Financial District apartment as she attempted to cozy up to wealthy Americans with connections.
Chapman and the rest of the spies received a sentence of time served and had to agree to leave the U.S. and never return, unless they receive explicit permission from the U.S. Attorney General.
“You must cooperate in your immediate removal or expulsion from the United States,” said Judge Kimba M. Woodudge. “You agree to never attempt to reenter the United States."
The government agreed to drop all other charges against them, including charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering levied against eight of them.
The agents had cultivated normal-seeming lives in the U.S., in some cases taking American-sounding names and attending prestigious schools.
Spies “Cynthia Murphy,” who attended Columbia University, and her husband "Richard Murphy" admitted their real names were Vladimir Guryev and Lydia Guryev.
“Juan Lazaro,” who is married to former El Diario reporter Vicky Pelaez, admitted that he is a Russian citizen named Mikhail Anatonoljevich Vasenkov.
Chapman and Vicky Pelaez both used their real names while acting as agents for Russia. Pelaez's attorney said that the Russian Federation promised her free housing for life and a $2,000 monthly stipend for the rest of her life if she pleaded guilty.
A lawyer for Vladimir Guryev, AKA "Mr. Murphy," said that all the spies would be transported straight to the airport on a bus together, adding, "All's well that ends well."
Chapman's attorney said she was not offered anything by the Russian government. He said Chapman had been in solitary confinement and her incarceration had been very difficult for her.
Igor Sutyagin, a scientist arrested in Russia in 1999 for allegedly sending the CIA secrets about nuclear submarines and missile warning systems, is reportedly one of the people Russia will release in exchange for the spies.