From left, Silvio Andreassi, Josephine Vasbinder, Malphine Fogel, Lydia Emrick, and Helen Bartoe pose for pictures during their annual family reunion in July at Sugarcreek Community Park in Sugarcreek Township. The family is advocating for the release of Fogel's son, Marc Fogel, since he was detained in Russia about a year ago. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

-

U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., led a group of senators in asking the U.S. Department of State to reclassify Butler native Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained in Russia.

Fogel, a 61-year-old husband and father of two who lives in Oakmont, Allegheny County, was detained Aug. 14, 2021, after he was found in possession of less than an ounce of medical marijuana, and was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Casey and a bi-partisan group of senators including Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., co-authored a letter Tuesday to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on behalf of Fogel.

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. Subscribers can read the full story at the link below. To support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.