Aldrich Ames, a former CIA agent who sold US secrets to the Soviet Union, has died in a Maryland prison at the age of 84. Ames was responsible for one of the most damaging intelligence breaches in US history, admitting to passing information to Moscow for nearly a decade. This included the identities of western agents behind the Iron Curtain, as well as 10 Russian officials and one East European who were spying for the United States or Great Britain.
Ames was arrested in February 1994, along with his wife Rosario, and pleaded guilty to espionage and tax evasion charges without a trial. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, while his wife received a sentence of just over five years for aiding and abetting his activities. Ames' actions had significant consequences for US relations with Moscow, particularly during and after the Cold War.
Ames' death marks the end of a life marked by betrayal and deception. His actions as a double agent had far-reaching consequences, and his legacy serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges associated with espionage and counter-intelligence.