Driscoll added that Butina, who prosecutors said conspired to influence American conservative activists and infiltrate the National Rifle Association, is expected to be detained by U. S. immigration authorities immediately after her release to be deported back to Russia. U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday morning issued a statement confirming officials had taken custody of Butina.

Prosecutors last year claimed Butina used her contacts with the NRA and the National Prayer Breakfast to develop relationships with U.S. politicians and gather information for Russia.

BUTINA SAYS HER ‘REPUTATION IS RUINED’ AFTER SENTENCING

Butina’s boyfriend, conservative political operative Paul Erickson, identified in court papers as “U.S. Person 1,” helped establish her ties with the NRA, officials said.

In their filings, prosecutors said federal agents found Butina had contact information for people suspected of being employed by Russia’s Federal Security Services, or FSB, the successor intelligence agency to the KGB. Inside her home, they found notes referring to a potential job offer from the FSB, according to the documents.

Investigators recovered several emails and Twitter direct message conversations in which Butina referred to the need to keep her work secret and, in one instance, said it should be “incognito.”Prosecutors said Butina had contact with Russian intelligence officials and that the FBI photographed her dining with a diplomat suspected of being a Russian intelligence agent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously spoken out against Putin’s plight, saying “it’s not clear what she was convicted of or what crime she committed.”

“I think it’s a prime example of ‘saving face’, ” he was quoted by Reuters as saying in April of last year. “They arrested her and put the girl in jail. But there was nothing on her, so in order not to look totally stupid they gave her, fixed her up, with an 18-month sentence to show that she was guilty of something.”

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Butina said during her sentencing hearing she is “truly sorry” and regrets not registering as a foreign agent.

“I feel ashamed and embarrassed,” she said, adding that her “reputation is ruined.”

Fox News’ Phil Keating, Alex Pappas and the Associated Press contributed to this report.