An American soldier was arrested in Russia for theft

An American soldier has been arrested in Russia and accused of theft, according to two U.S. officials.

U.S. officials said the soldier, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of heading to Ft. Cavazos in Texas. Instead, he traveled to Russia, officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel details.

Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, confirmed that a soldier was arrested on criminal misconduct charges Thursday in Vladivostok, a major military and commercial port in the Pacific. She said Russia notified the U.S. and the Army told the soldier’s family.

“The U.S. State Department is providing appropriate consular assistance to the soldier in Russia,” Smith said.

It was unclear Monday whether the soldier would be considered absent without permission or absent without permission.

The arrest comes less than a year after American soldier Travis King sprinted across the heavily fortified inter-Korean border into North Korea. North Korea later announced it would deport King, who was sent back to the United States. Eventually he was accused of desertion.

Russia is known to hold a number of Americans in its prisons, including the company’s security official Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. government has deemed both of them unlawfully detained and is attempting to negotiate their release.

Others detained include Travis Leake, a musician who has lived in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher in Moscow who was also sentenced to 14 years in prison on drug charges; and dual citizens Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.

The soldier’s arrest in Russia was first reported by NBC News.

Baldor writes for the Associated Press. AP reporters Matthew Lee and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.