Paul Erikson, 56, ex-boyfriend of the suspected Russian spy Maria Butina, 29, was indicted in South Dakota on federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering on 5 February. He pleaded not guilty to 11 charges and was released under investigation. Butina was charged on 16 July 2018 with being a Russian agent who posed as guns rights activist in order to penetrate and report on right wing American officials and political organisations. It is alleged that she created a romantic relationship with Erikson in order to gain access to these targets.
