> At a Glance
> – CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames has died in a federal Maryland prison at age 84
> – Ames admitted receiving $2.5 million from Moscow for selling U.S. secrets from 1985 to 1994
> – His disclosures led to executions of Western agents and compromised Cold War intelligence
> – Why it matters: Ames remains among the most damaging spies in U.S. history, crippling CIA operations behind the Iron Curtain
America’s most notorious modern spy, Aldrich Ames, has died in custody, closing a dark chapter in U.S. intelligence history. The 84-year-old former CIA officer spent nearly three decades behind bars for betraying his country in exchange for millions in cash.
The Betrayal
Ames spent 31 years inside the CIA before his 1994 arrest, using his post in the Soviet/Eastern European division to funnel secrets to Moscow. Court records show he pocketed $2.5 million over nine years, beginning in 1985.
Among the damage:
- Exposed 10 Russian officials and one Eastern European spying for the U.S. or Britain
- Revealed spy satellite operations and eavesdropping methods
- Shared general CIA procedures
Prosecutors said those leaks cost Western agents their lives and delivered a major Cold War setback to American intelligence.
Capture & Sentence
Ames pleaded guilty without trial to espionage and tax evasion in 1994. A federal judge sentenced him to life without parole, citing the vast intelligence losses he caused.
> Ames told the court:
> “I feel profound shame and guilt for this betrayal of trust, done for the basest motives-money to pay debts.”
Yet he minimized the impact, claiming he hadn’t “noticeably damaged” the United States or “noticeably aided” Moscow. He dismissed espionage as “a sideshow” with no real effect on security interests.
Motive: Money Troubles
In a jailhouse interview with The Washington Post, Ames admitted “financial troubles, immediate and continuing” pushed him to spy. The FBI history of the case shows he first approached the KGB while stationed at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and later continued passing secrets from Rome and Washington.
Parallel Spy Ring
Ames wasn’t alone. His activities overlapped with FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who took $1.4 million to sell secrets to Moscow and was caught in 2001. Hanssen died in prison last year.
Family Fallout
Ames’ wife, Rosario, pleaded guilty to lesser espionage charges for helping her husband and received 63 months in federal prison.
Key Takeaways
- Aldrich Ames’ nine-year espionage career made him one of America’s most destructive spies
- His disclosures led to executions of U.S.-allied agents and compromised critical Cold War operations
- Ames died Monday in a federal facility, the Bureau of Prisons confirmed
The Bureau of Prisons spokesperson offered no cause of death, but the spy who once shattered CIA networks behind the Iron Curtain leaves behind a legacy of unprecedented betrayal.
