American soldier sentenced to serve nearly 4 years in Russian penal colony

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black has been sentenced to nearly four years of hard time in a remote Russian penal colony.

ABC News Digital is your daily source of breaking national and world news, exclusive interviews and 24/7 live streaming coverage.

ABC News is the home to the #1 evening newscast “World News Tonight” with David Muir, “Good Morning America,” “20/20,” “Nightline,” “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, “ABC News Live Prime” with Linsey Davis, plus the daily news podcast “Start Here.”

Connect with ABC News on social media:

[Shining]

He could quite possibly be the dumbest US Soldier in American history.... what was he thinking?

[FreeThoughtCrime]

Dude has a wife in the US, gets himself a Russian mistress on the side, then goes AWOL to go to her house in Russia to extort money from her. What could possibly go wrong?

[actorpmw]

Imagine traveling illegally and ending up in jail for 4 years and not even getting to first base. 😂

[Orlando]

I don't think he's a smart guy in the first place.

[Klara]

Forest Gump even said ...." stupid is as stupid does "

[jonathantaylor]

Let him do his time and don't trade anybody or anything for his release.

[JB]

“I’ll just go AWOL and visit my Russian “girlfriend” in Russia. What could possibly go wrong?”

[tushkafilms]

Homeboy went awol, then admitted to stealing $150 from a woman. Sounds like it’s his own fault.

[a.h.g.kokushibo]

Even more stupid she didn't want anything to do with him. He stole from her. It sounds like he needs prison since the military obviously didn't straighten him up.

[CajunPips]

Next time just FaceTime her…why would you break the rules man come on!!!! Smh 🤦🏾‍♂️

[pennybowen]

When chasing snatch gets you 4 years hard labor!

[Philmoscowitz]

The surprising thing is this guy is a sergeant. How the hell did he make it to sergeant? Somebody was asleep at their desk job.

[EminencePhront]

Don’t the mail order bride services work by sending Olga to you?

[m.e.]

His mom wore her best pajamas for the interview

[joanmccreless]

Sounds like the safest place he can be with that attitude

[EM-mwqr]

What people will do when they're obsessed with someone is beyond insane.

[omi_god]

This one's a real head scratcher - why on earth do people do the things they do?

[seandonahue]

He was stupid to go there at this time. Even his family told him. I feel bad for his Mom.

[lovepet]

That is on him
& we better not try to get him out

[larynOneka]

Domestic violence and theft isn't a big deal in the United States. Maybe he thought it wasn't a big deal in Russia.