Who was Aldrich Ames and what did he do?

Aldrich Ames was a CIA officer who spied for the Soviet Union and Russia, betraying U.S. intelligence and leading to the deaths of agents.

When was Aldrich Ames arrested and sentenced?

Aldrich Ames was arrested in February 1994 and pleaded guilty to espionage, receiving a life sentence without parole.

What was the impact of Aldrich Ames's spying?

Ames's betrayal exposed U.S. agents and operations, leading to executions and significantly weakening American intelligence during the Cold War.

Home / Crime and Justice / CIA Traitor Aldrich Ames Dies in Prison at 84

CIA Traitor Aldrich Ames Dies in Prison at 84

7 Jan

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Summary

Aldrich Ames, a former CIA officer, died in prison at age 84.
He betrayed U.S. intelligence for nearly ten years, receiving millions.
His actions led to the execution and imprisonment of many agents.

CIA Traitor Aldrich Ames Dies in Prison at 84

Former CIA officer Aldrich Ames, notorious for his role as a spy for Russia, has died at age 84. He had been serving a life sentence without parole at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland. Ames was arrested in February 1994, following a lengthy investigation that revealed his nearly ten-year betrayal of U.S. intelligence. He confessed to providing classified information to the Soviet Union and later Russia.

During his time as chief of the counterintelligence branch of the CIA's Soviet division, Ames accessed sensitive data. He began passing these secrets to KGB officers in 1985, motivated by financial gain and a desire to avoid exposure. The documents he leaked exposed covert operations worldwide and identified numerous U.S. and allied spies working within the Soviet Union. These betrayals resulted in the execution of at least 10 intelligence sources and the collapse of the CIA's spy network inside the USSR.