On Thursday, a Russian court found Brittney Griner guilty of attempted drug smuggling and possession. The guilty verdict says Brittney had criminal intent when she attempted to enter the country with less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.

Griner has been detained in Russia on drug charges since Feb. 17.

Before the conviction, Russian prosecutors asked the court to consider giving the WNBA star 9.5 years in their closing. Shortly after news of the verdict broke, Brittney’s lawyers confirmed the Russian court obliged the prosecutors’ request.

The prosecution also asked that Griner was fined 1 million rubles, roughly equivalent to $16,600, according to The New York Times.

As a result, she was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony.

Why Brittney Griner was in Russia

The Russian government announced that it had detained Griner at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow for allegedly transporting vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.

Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star center who plays for the Phoenix Mercury. But like many other WNBA stars, Griner heads overseas during the WNBA’s off-season to make more money.

Griner plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg who has an average of paying WNBA players $1.5 million to play in Russia.

WHY BRITTNEY PLEAD GUILTY

When asked why she pleaded guilty, Griner’s lawyers said the athlete recognizes her status as a role model and would like to acknowledge her mistakes, even if bringing cannabis oil into the country was done so unintentionally.

Brittney Apologized & Denied Criminal Intent Prior To Verdict

This verdict comes after Brittney pled guilty in early July. At the time, she said, “I’d like to plead guilty, your honor, but there was no intent, I didn’t break the law.” She again spoke to the court during Thursday’s closing arguments.

“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Brittney said. “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here.”
As previously reported, customs officials detained Brittney in February at a Moscow airport. They had found two vape cartidges containing hashish oil in her baggage. In May, the United States declared that Brittney was “wrongfully detained,” but that did little to aid her case.

Concerns that Russia is using Brittney as a political prisoner bubbled almost immediately after the news of her arrest. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied those allegations. Speaking through a rep named Dmitry Peskov, the president said Brittney “violated Russian law” regarding hashish oil, and the case is “not about being a hostage.”

Never, ever, ever, ever travel to Russia. Even if they offer you two million dollars.

The earth realm is crazy. When it comes to the court system around the world, it would be nice if compassion and kindness to other humans, were part of the equation.

Not to mention, humans have a limited life span. so to take away 10-years of someone’s life for this, for a harmless incident says a lot about the state of the world.

However the television show Locked Up Abroad warned the world about these things. It is highly unwise to travel outside of America with any drug.

Meanwhile the government is working secure Brittney’s release.