FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested on February 18, 2001, for spying for the Soviet Union and its successor state, Russia, for more than 20 years. He was charged with 15 counts of espionage and conspiracy. On May 10, 2002, Hanssen was sentenced to 15 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
He was charged with 15 counts of espionage and conspiracy. He reached a plea bargain avoiding the death penalty, in exchange for cooperating with authorities and providing a full account of his activities. Hanssen provided highly classified national security information in exchange for over $1.4 million in cash and diamonds; compromising numerous U.S. intelligence operations and assets which led to the execution of at least two U.S. double agents by the Russians. Hanssen died in prison in 2023, at the age of 79, from natural causes. More
