Who is Trevor Reed and why is he being detained in Russia?
A RUSSIAN court sentenced a 29-year-old US Marine to nine years in prison in 2020 after a night of heavy drinking in Moscow. Nearly a year since the US Marine's sentencing, Trevor Reed's parents are hoping the upcoming summit between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead to a prisoner swap. Reed is a resident of Texas who lived in Hood County outside of the Dallas area. Reed spent the summer of 2019 in Moscow studying Russian and visiting his girlfriend Alina Tsybulnik - a lawyer in Moscow - and was preparing to return home last August, his family told NBC. However, just days before his return, he celebrated a night out with his friends and his girlfriend's co-workers. On August 16, 2019, Reed was arrested in Moscow and accused of intentionally endangering the lives of government officials in the line of duty. 5 On August 16, 2019, Trevor Reed was arrested in Moscow and accused of intentionally endangering the lives of police officers Credit: Reuters  According to Russian officials, on the night of August 16, Reed was arrested after he got drunk and allegedly grabbed the arm of an officer as he was being taken to a station, causing the vehicle to swerve and endangering the lives of officers. At the time, the US ambassador dismissed the allegation as preposterous and noted that video evidence showed no swerving. In July 2020, Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison. During the trials closing arguments - Reed said he would not admit guilt to a crime he didn't commit. "I think it would be unethical and immoral to plead guilty to a crime I didn't commit," Reed said in his closing statement on the eve of the trial's verdict. "If I am going to be given a prison sentence, I'd rather stay in prison than walk free tomorrow a liar and a coward." 5 In July 2020, Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison. Russian President Putin called Reed just a drunk and a troublemaker, in a rare acknowledgment of the imprisoned Texans case in advance of his summit with President Biden in Geneva. Putin also suggested that Reed is lucky to be in a Russian prison because if hed attacked a cop in the United States, he would have been shot dead on that spot.  Your guy, the Marine - hes just a drunk and a troublemaker. As they say here, he got himself s***faced and started a fight, Putin told NBC. Among other things, he, he hit a cop. Its, its nothing. Its just a common crime. There is nothing to it.  5 In a recent interview with NBC, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Reed 'just a drunk' and 'a troublemaker' Credit: Reuters  The Russian president added: He got drunk on vodka and started a fight. He fought a cop. There is nothing offensive about it. These things happen in life. There is nothing horrible about it. It happens to our men as well. Somebody gulps down some vodka and starts a fight. So you violate the law, you go to prison. He would have been shot dead on that spot, and thats the end of it. Reed's parents, Joey and Paula, are hoping the upcoming summit between President Biden and Putin will lead to a prisoner swap. "We dont care how he comes home, if they want to exchange Trevor for some criminals that you know are low-level criminals or whatever," Joey told NBC's Today on June 14. "We're fine with that. We want our son home," Paula added  "Hey, American prisons then dont have to pay for their housing," Joey said. "Send them home." 5 Joey and Paula Reed, Trevor's parents, are hoping the upcoming summit between President Joe Biden and Putin will lead to a prisoner swap Credit: Reuters  Most read in News TRAGIC LOSS Porn star's George Floyd mural pic resurfaces after she was 'found dead at 27' Breaking SACRIFICED HERSELF Family's heartbreak as mom killed when driver plowed into protesters BLAZING INFERNO Huge explosion at chemical plant sends plumes of black smoke into the air MILITARY DEATHS Army paratroopers found dead 'after involvement with illicit drugs' TARGETED ATTACK Son killed with mom days after his hearing into deadly drunken boat crash INFERNO Nuke bomb-style mushroom cloud erupts at petrol station in horror blast injuring 25  Paula and Joey also heard Putins remarks for the first time live on NBC's Today. Weve never made any negative comments about President Putin. We think thats a political issue and not for us, Joey said. We find his false statements about our son offensive.