Aubrey Lorber, a 19-year-old film student from Staten Island, New York, is being held in a St. Petersberg jail after being arrested with 19 grams of marijuana on her in late-July. Lorber had a medical prescription for medical marijuana which was valid in the United States but that still led to her arrest. Lorber was in Russia on vacation with her mother at the time of her arrest at Pulkovo Airport.
New York City Congressman Max Rose is among those who are campaigning for Lorber’s release.
“I’m working to help get Audrey home as soon as possible because no American citizen should be held in jail for a medical condition,” Rep. Max Rose, D-N.Y., said in a statement, via NBC News.
Lorber is a film student at Pace University and has a 4.0-grade point average.
If convicted on the drug possession charge in Russia, the 19-year-old could face up to three years in prison. However, the U.S. State Department is working with the proper authorities to get Lorber released from behind bars.
“We are aware of the reports of a U.S. citizen was arrested in St. Petersburg, Russia,” the U.S. State Department said in their statement. “We take seriously our responsibility to assist U.S. citizens abroad. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”
According to the boss of Audrey’s mother Rochelle Lorber, her mother moved to St. Petersburg and got an apartment with the hope of getting her daughter on house arrest. However, at this time, she remains behind bars.
Her last Instagram post was made on July 22.
Earlier this year, Naama Issachar, a 25-year-old American-Israeli citizen, was detained in Moscow for marijuana possession. Issachar was in custody for four months before beginning trial last week, according to the Daily Mail.
