The U.S. Justice Department reported today that a former CIA officer, Alexander Yu-Ching Ma (71), born in Hong Kong and a U.S. citizen, has pleaded guilty to spying for China. He admitted to providing Chinese authorities in 2001 with "a large amount of classified information regarding U.S. national defense," despite not being employed by the agency for the past 12 years.
According to the department, Ma met with representatives from China's Ministry of State Security in Shanghai, arranged by another CIA agent who was a relative of Ma and born in the Chinese city before gaining U.S. citizenship. The statement referred to this individual as "Co-Conspirator Number 1," explaining that at the end of the third day of meetings held at a hotel in Hong Kong, Chinese intelligence officials provided "Co-Conspirator Number 1" with $50,000 in cash, after which Ma agreed to continue assisting Chinese intelligence.
The FBI assigned Ma as a language specialist in Hawaii in 2003 "as part of an investigation plan, to work in a location where his activities could be monitored" and to verify his connections with China. In 2006, "Ma convinced Co-Conspirator Number 1 to provide the identities of at least two individuals appearing in photographs" given to him by Chinese intelligence. Ma, who worked for the FBI until 2012, admitted that this information, along with what he provided in 2001, "would be used to harm the United States or benefit" the Chinese authorities.
If the judicial authorities accept his plea agreement that includes cooperation with U.S. authorities, Ma is expected to receive a 10-year prison sentence, scheduled for issuance on September 11.
