All 10 of the accused Russian spies held in the United States pleaded guilty Thursday at a hearing in Manhattan, a key step in a reported deal under negotiation with Russia for the largest swap of espionage detainees since the Cold War. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Farbiarz said at the start of the hearing in federal court that the 10 defendants wanted to enter guilty pleas. An 11th person indicted in the case is a fugitive.

Prosecutors agreed to allow the 10 to plead guilty to one charge each of secretly conspiring to act as agents of the Russian government, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years. Nine of the 11 defendants in the case were also originally charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.