Cabrera Fuentes caught the attention of security guards when staking out the U.S. source’s car by trespassing on the residential compound where the source lived, according to the release. He was caught at Miami International Airport trying to leave the country for Mexico, and border agents found a close-up image of the source's license plate on the phone of Cabrera Fuentes’ travel companion, the release said.

The release also said border agents found WhatsApp messages on Cabrera Fuentes’ phone that revealed correspondence with the Russian agent arranging the mission.

Cabrera Fuentes was, according to DOJ, recruited by the Russian agent in 2019 and had been instructed at the time to rent an apartment under a false name. The release said he traveled to Russia shortly after and again in 2019 to meet with the Russian government agent.

The case is being prosecuted in Southern Florida. The initial complaint is under seal in federal court there and a pretrial detention hearing is set for Friday.

