Aldrich Ames

Aldrich Ames was a former CIA counterintelligence officer who became one of the most damaging double agents in US history. He spied for the Soviet Union and later Russia, betraying classified information that led to the exposure and execution of numerous US assets. Ames and his wife, Rosario, were arrested in February 1994. He pleaded guilty to espionage in April 1994 and was serving a life sentence without parole. Ames is newsworthy due to his death at the age of 84 in a Maryland prison, as confirmed by the Bureau of Prisons. His case remains a significant example of the potential damage caused by insider threats and the importance of counterintelligence efforts. The breach he committed continues to be studied for its impact on US intelligence operations and national security.