State revokes real estate license of Russian spy who lived in Cambridge

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

State officials announced Friday that they have revoked the real estate broker license of a convicted Russian spy who lived in Cambridge before she was arrested and deported two years ago.

The state Division of Professional Licensure said Elena Vavilova, also known as Tracey A. Foley, failed to report her criminal conviction to the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

As a result, the Board revoked the broker’s license Vavilova had held since November of 2009.

Vavilova and her husband Andrey Bezrukov, also known as Donald Howard Heathfield, lived on Trowbridge Street in Cambridge before they were arrested along with eight other Russian spies in the United States in June of 2010. The couple pleaded guilty in US District Court in Manhattan to conspiring to act as agents of the Russian Federation in the United States and the case concluded with a spy swap in July of 2010.

Vavilova violated regulations for her real estate license by failing to report her conviction within 30 days, according to a May decision by the state Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers obtained by the Globe. The Board also found Vavilova’s conduct was unprofessional and “undermines the public confidence in the integrity of the real estate profession.”

The state Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons attempted to contact Vavilova, who is believed to be living in Russia. But efforts to contact her through the Russian Embassy and the Russian Ministry of Interior garnered no response and the state said it has not received any notice that she is being represented by a lawyer.