Who is Marc Fogel
Marc Fogel is a 63-year old history teacher who lived in Russia while teaching at the Anglo-American School in Moscow. He was arrested in August 2021 for carrying half an ounce of marijuana which had been prescribed by doctors in the U.S. to help treat chronic pain stemming from a series of injuries and operations.
Marc Fogel Family
Marc is a native of Pittsburgh who was born in July 1961. He is the son of Malphine Fogel and the late Chubby Fogel. He is a brother to Lisa and Anne. He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Marc Fogel Wife and Kids
Fogel is married to Jane, who is also a teacher and together they taught high schoolers in Colombia, Malaysia, Oman, Venezuela, and Russia. The couple have two sons, Ethan and Sam.
Why was Marc Fogel in Russia
Fogel was a history teacher at the ritzy Anglo-American School, a private school catering to American diplomats and other international political elites. He landed the job in Moscow in 2012 after stints in Colombia, Venezuela, Oman and Malaysia.
Why was Marc Detained
On August 14, 2021, Marc was returning to Moscow from their home in Oakmont, Pa. alongside his wife Jane, while at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport he was arrested for carrying just under an ounce of medical marijuana. The officials found 14 vape cartridges containing hash oil, along with some loose marijuana flower which amounted to around 17 grams of cannabis.
This was Marc’s 10th year in Moscow and was plannning to retire after teaching for 36 years. He suffered from physical ailments including severe back and associated knee, hip, and shoulder problems.
During trial, he was accused of plotting to distribute the cannabis products. He was convicted on August 4, 2022 and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was imprisoned at Rybinsk penal colony which is about 200 miles or 4 hours north of Moscow.
Marc Fogel Released
On February 11, 2025, Marc was released in an “exchange” after three years of detainment in Russia. The release was negotiated by Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, “and the President’s advisers.” Witkoff personally went to Russia to bring back Fogel.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia. President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,” White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said in a statement.
President Trump has however not revealed what the U.S. offered Russia for the release as it was an ‘exchange’. When asked what they offered President Trump said;
“Not much. No. They were very nice. We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually, I hope that’s the beginning of the relationship where we can end that war and millions of people can stop being killed….We’ve got to stop that war.”