Known as one of the most damaging moles in CIA history, Aldrich Ames betrayed dozens of Western intelligence assets and compromised over 100 covert operations during the Cold War era. His espionage activities led to the execution of at least 10 CIA sources in the Soviet Union.

Early Career at the CIA

Born on May 26, 1941, in River Falls, Wisconsin, Aldrich Hazen Ames joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1962.

Over more than three decades, he rose through the ranks, eventually heading the counterintelligence branch focused on Soviet operations.

Ames had access to highly sensitive information about U.S. intelligence efforts against the USSR.

The Betrayal: Becoming a KGB Agent

In 1985, facing financial difficulties, Ames made the fateful decision to offer his services to the Soviet KGB. Operating under the codename “Kolokol,” he began providing Moscow with classified information.

Over the next nine years, Ames revealed the identities of more than 30 Western agents working inside the Soviet Union and compromised over 100 secret U.S. intelligence operations.

For his betrayal, the KGB and later Russian intelligence paid Ames approximately $2.7 million – the highest amount ever paid to an American spy by Moscow.

Lavish Lifestyle That Led to Exposure

Despite earning an official CIA salary of around $70,000 annually, Ames lived extravagantly. He purchased a $540,000 home in Arlington, Virginia (paid in cash), drove a Jaguar, and indulged in expensive dental work, designer clothes, and luxury goods.

These unexplained expenditures raised red flags and eventually drew FBI attention, leading to a prolonged investigation into his finances and activities.

Arrest, Guilty Plea, and Life Sentence

On February 21, 1994, the FBI arrested Ames and his wife, Rosario Ames, who was accused of assisting in the espionage. In April 1994, Aldrich Ames pleaded guilty to espionage charges to avoid the death penalty.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His wife received a five-year sentence for her role in the conspiracy.

Death in Federal Custody

Aldrich Ames spent the remainder of his life at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland. His death on January 5, 2026, marks the end of one of the most notorious chapters in U.S. intelligence history. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed at this time.

The Aldrich Ames espionage case prompted major reforms in CIA and FBI counterintelligence procedures, including stricter financial monitoring and polygraph testing for personnel with access to classified information.

Legacy of the Most Damaging CIA Traitor

Aldrich Ames remains synonymous with betrayal in American intelligence circles. His actions not only cost lives but also severely damaged U.S. efforts against the Soviet Union during a critical period of the Cold War.

Alongside Robert Hanssen, Ames is considered one of the two most destructive moles ever uncovered within U.S. agencies.