A Russian woman with ties to a US gun lobby has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to act as a spy for Moscow.

Maria Butina, 29, was arrested on Sunday at her home in Washington DC and appeared in federal court on Monday, before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson.

She was charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation within the United States, without prior notification to the attorney general. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison.

Butina’s lawyer, Robert Neil Driscoll, told the judge that Butina’s residence was searched by the FBI in April, that she had testified for eight hours before the Senate Intelligence Committee in a closed session several months ago.

He said her arrest was premature, adding: “we have been offering to cooperate with the government the entire time.”

Butina did not speak during the brief hearing other than to state her name, and was held without bail. She will appear in court again on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.