Admitted Russian agent Butina sentenced to 18 months

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday sentenced Russian agent Maria Butina to serve 18 months in prison after Butina pleaded guilty in December to conspiring with a Russian official to infiltrate a gun rights group and influence U.S. conservative activists and Republicans.

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan said the 18 months will include the approximately nine months Butina already has served in jail since her arrest in July. She also agreed to have Butina deported back to Russia after she completes her sentence. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch Editing by Bill Trott)