Jacob Albam appeared in Federal Court after he had been arrested with two others , Jack Soble and Mrs Myra Soble , on charges that the three conspired to commit espionage for the Soviet Union . It is said that one of the three were arrested while planning to leave the country . The FBI said investigation in the case dates back 13 years , when the Bureau began scrutinising the activities of Vassili Zubilin (pictured) , who was said to have been once a General in the NKVD ( Soviet Secret Police ) . Zubilin , after serving as Third Secretary at the Soviet Embassy in Washington , returned to Russia in 1944 . 25 January 1957