A world-renowned Mexican scientist pleaded guilty on Tuesday to espionage for the Russian government against the United States.

Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes, a 36-year-old Mexican national, allegedly acted on behalf of Russia in the United States without informing the US government. Attorney General’s Office

According to court documents, Fuentes collaborated with a person he mistook for a Russian government employee. This person allegedly told Fuentes to find an intermediary to help him lease a Miami apartment building. According to the DOJ, this location was home to a US government source who had provided the US government with information about Russia.

According to the DOJ, Fuentes traveled to Miami in early 2020 to get this person’s license plate number and parking spot, which he then provided on to the Russian official on his next trip to Russia.

As they attempted to travel back to Mexico, investigators detained Fuentes and his wife at the Miami airport in late February 2020 and discovered a recently erased photo of the license plate on his wife’s phone.

Fuentes had not notified the US, according to the DOJ. Attorney General that he was functioning as a Russian government agent in the United States, as required by federal law.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Fuentes, a world-renowned biologist who studied in Russia and lived in Singapore, was hailed as a hero and role model in his home state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Fuentes’ sentence is set to commence on May 17 in Miami before a federal judge. Donald M. Middlebrooks is a United States District Judge.

Attorneys for Fuentes declined to comment.