Jul.01, 2010, 5:32 p.m. EST

New York City, New York, United States (AHN) - Nine suspects in an alleged Russian spy ring faced bail hearings Thursday as federal prosecutors revealed more evidence of their secret lives.

Prosecutors argued that the nine defendants should be denied an opportunity to post bail because the chances are good they would try to escape.

Although details of their information-gathering were not revealed, they are accused of being long-term “moles” who assumed American identities, took jobs as businessmen and lived in the suburbs.

Meanwhile, Obama administration officials said they would not expel Russian diplomats from the United States over the incident. They also said they would try to hang on to foreign relations with Russia that have improved since Barack Obama became president.

They admitted being embarrassed by the arrests, which occurred only three days after Obama met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Prosecutors say the ring used classic spy techniques to pass information to the Russian S.V.R., the successor to the K.G.B. intelligence agency. They included code books, radio transmitters and dead letter drops.

“All of the defendants are practiced in the sort of systemic deception that would be necessary were they to attempt to leave the United States,” according to court documents presented Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan.

The nine suspects were part of a larger ring of 11 suspected spies operating throughout the East Coast. One of the suspects fled after posting bail in Cyprus. The other was denied bail on Monday.

The nine that faced hearings Thursday were brought to court in New York, Boston and Alexandria, Va.

Prosecutors said the escape of Christopher Metsos, the alleged paymaster of the “deep cover” spy ring showed the defendants can and would escape if they were released on bail.

Criminal charges against the group include working for a foreign government without registering with U.S. authorities and money laundering. They face up to five years in prison if they are convicted of failing to register as foreign agents. The money laundering charges carry longer sentences.

Prosecutors revealed a message received from the Russian S.V.R. in 2009 by a married couple in New York accused of participating in the ring. The couple used the names of Richard and Cynthia Murphy.

“The only goal and task of our service and of all of us is security of our country,” the message said. “All our activities are subjected to this goal.

“Only for reaching this goal were you dispatched to U.S., settled down there, gained legal status and were expected to start striking up useful acquaintances, broadening circle of your well-placed connections, gaining information and eventually recruiting sources.”

Much of the attention in the case has focused on the “femme fatale” of the spy ring named Anna Chapman, 28, who ran a successful business.

She moved to New York in February after having lived in London for the previous four years.

Her father, Vasily Kushchenko, is a senior diplomat in Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs.

In recent days, the U.S. Marine Corps has circulated her photo to some sailors warning them about the dangers of being attracted to beautiful foreign women who might be intelligence agents. Her photos also have been circulated widely on the Internet.

She was denied bail on Monday after prosecutors identified her as a risk for escaping.

The FBI says one suspect, Juan Lazaro, confessed that he worked for Russia’s S.V.R.

Prosecutors said while making the confession after his June 27 arrest, Lazaro admitted he was using a fake name and that his wife, a Peruvian journalist, had passed information to Russian agents for him. He also identified other members of the ring.

In Boston, suspects Donald Heathfield and his wife, Tracey Lee Ann Foley, were granted a delay in their bail hearing until July 16 to give their new lawyers more time to prepare.