Aldrich Ames

Aldrich Hazen Ames (May 26, 1941 – ) is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer and analyst who was convicted of espionage in 1994 for spying for the Soviet Union and later Russia. His actions have been described as one of the most damaging espionage activities against the United States in history. Ames provided the KGB and its successors with a significant amount of classified information, including revealing the identities of CIA and FBI human sources, some of whom were executed as a result of his disclosures.

Early Life and Career

Aldrich Ames was born in River Falls, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Chicago before dropping out and eventually joining the CIA in 1962. Ames initially worked in records and operations support but later was trained in espionage and counterintelligence. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he served in various overseas postings, including in Turkey, Italy, and the Soviet Union, where he was tasked with recruiting and managing foreign agents.

Espionage Activities

Ames's espionage activities began in 1985. Facing financial difficulties and motivated by greed, he walked into the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C., and offered to sell classified information. Over the years, Ames received more than $2 million from the Soviets for information that led to the compromise of numerous CIA and FBI operations, as well as the exposure of at least ten American sources, some of whom were executed by the Soviet Union.

The information Ames provided to the Soviets included details on U.S. intelligence-gathering methods, technical operations, and the identities of U.S. informants. His betrayal severely damaged U.S. intelligence operations against the Soviet Union and its successor states.

Investigation and Arrest

The CIA and FBI began to suspect an insider threat after the loss of several key Soviet informants. An intensive counterintelligence investigation was launched, which eventually focused on Ames due to his unexplained wealth and inconsistencies in his lifestyle and financial records. Ames was placed under surveillance, and incriminating evidence was gathered.

On February 21, 1994, Ames and his wife, Rosario Ames, were arrested by the FBI. He was charged with espionage and later pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. Ames was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His case led to a comprehensive review of CIA's security and counterintelligence practices.

Legacy

The Ames espionage case had a profound impact on the U.S. intelligence community, leading to significant changes in security and counterintelligence practices. It also strained U.S.-Russian relations and highlighted the vulnerabilities within the CIA's operations.

See Also

• Espionage
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Soviet Union
• Counterintelligence