Skip to content
On January 12, 1976, a young and ambitious Robert Philip Hanssen took an oath as a fresh FBI special agent. He pledged to uphold the law and protect the nation. Little did anyone know that he would go on to become one of the most notorious double agents in U.S. history.
Hanssen's story is a chilling tale of deception. By February 18, 2001, the very organization he had sworn to serve arrested him. The charges? Espionage on behalf of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Operating under the alias “Ramon Garcia,” Hanssen had traded national security secrets for a mix of cash, bank funds, and diamonds, amassing over $1.4 million.
His espionage journey began actually began in 1979, when he first offered his access to the GRU. But 25 September 1981 marks his first official dead drop for his new KGB handlers. With his pivotal position in counterintelligence, Hanssen had access to a treasure trove of classified information. He cleverly used encrypted communications, “dead drops,” and other secretive methods to pass on this information to the KGB and later, its successor, the SVR. The gravity of his betrayal is immense. He exposed human sources, counterintelligence techniques, investigations, and a plethora of classified U.S. government documents. His actions also lead to the FBI ruthlessly pursuing innocent CIA officer Brian Kelley, as their access to information was very similar.
Hanssen's training and experience in counterintelligence allowed him to evade detection for years. Even after the arrest of another infamous spy, Aldrich Ames, the intelligence community suspected another mole. Their initial suspicions, however, were misdirected.
The breakthrough came in 2000 when the FBI and CIA obtained Russian documentation pointing towards Hanssen. With his retirement looming, the agencies had to act swiftly. Their aim? Catch Hanssen in the very act of espionage.
Special Agent Don Sullivan played a pivotal role in this phase. Tasked with observing Hanssen, Sullivan noted his frequent access to the FBI’s Automated Case Support (ACS) system. Hanssen's new role at the FBI Headquarters, under the guise of a technology project, was a ruse to keep him under close surveillance.
By February 2001, a massive team was tailing Hanssen. Their diligence paid off when they learned of an upcoming dead drop. The setting was Foxstone Park, a location familiar to the FBI from previous surveillance. As Hanssen made his drop and retreated, the arrest team swooped in, marking the end of his espionage activities.
Hanssen's subsequent guilty plea to 15 counts of espionage led to a life sentence without parole on May 10, 2002. His story serves as a stark reminder of the depths of betrayal. He had taken an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution, but instead, he chose a path of treachery.
Robert Hanssen passed away in his prison cell on 5 June 2023, at the age of 79. His legacy remains one of the darkest chapters in the annals of U.S. intelligence history.
