Novi resident Paul Whelan was indicted on Thursday by Russian authorities with charges of espionage.
The retired Marine staff sergeant and Iraq War veteran was detained by Russian officials on Dec. 28 and is being held in Moscow for violating Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, Interfax reports. If convicted, Whelan could face up to 20 years in prison.
Whelan's family dismisses the espionage charges, noting that the 48-year-old was in Moscow for a friend's wedding,AP reports.…