MOSCOW, Russia – An American musician who has lived in Russia for more than a decade has been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, Russian media reported on Saturday.
Reports indicate that Michael Travis Leake is suspected of selling mephedrone, whose effects are similar to those of cocaine and MDMA. A Moscow court ordered him to be detained two months prior to trial, according to reports.
He faces charges of drug production or distribution, which carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
An Instagram account under the name of Travis Leake Instagram identifies him as the singer of the band Lovi Noch (Seize the night). According to the press, Leake was previously a paratrooper in the US Army and has lived in Moscow since 2010.
Moscow’s drug laws are strict. WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested in February 2022 after cannabis oil vape cartridges were found in her luggage at a Moscow airport. She was sentenced to nine years in prison, but was released in December in exchange for the release of jailed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The State Department said in an email statement to The Associated Press that it was aware of reports that a US citizen had recently been jailed in Moscow.
He added that when a US citizen is incarcerated abroad, the department “seeks consular access as soon as possible and works to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”
The department said it could not comment further due to privacy considerations.
