Butler native Marc Fogel has been detained in a Russian prison since 2021. Last week, his mother, Malphine, right, and sister Anne, left, met with U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and a variety of representatives in D.C. to tell his story. Submitted photo

Butler native Marc Fogel’s family has been fighting for his release from a Russian prison for three years.

His mother, Malphine, and sister, Anne, spent May 15 through 18 in Washington, D.C., telling Marc’s story to members of Congress.

“I think we had a very fruitful meeting with everybody,” Malphine said. “They just were very interested and sympathetic, and we ran our tails off, but everyone was very, very welcoming.”

Fogel, an Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate, had been living and working as a teacher in Russia since 2012. He was detained on a return trip in August 2021 for carrying about one-half ounce of medical marijuana, prescribed for chronic pain.