Russian Viktor Bout—the so-called "merchant of death" involved in a prisoner exchange for out WNBA star Brittney Griner late last year—told ESPN that, among other things, he followed Griner's case closely from federal prison in Illinois.

Bout added that he learned he was being switched for her when guards came to his cell with boxes on the morning of his release in December. He was serving a 25-year sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, after being convicted in 2011 on four felony counts, including conspiracy to kill U.S. residents.

Griner and Bout were freed and returned to their respective countries last Dec. 8 in a prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Since his release, Bout has declared his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine.

After her 10-month release, Griner returned to play for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, who missed the playoffs this year, snapping the league's longest streak of 10 consecutive seasons. Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges, saying she accidentally packed vape cartridges; a Russian judge sentenced her to nine years in prison.

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—Andrew Davis