farewell to Ronald William Pelton: former National Security Agency (NSA) analyst, one of the spies most famous Americans Cold Warwhile helping the USSR, died in Maryland at the age of 80 after spending about 30 years in prison and being released in 2015.
Pelton was found guilty of selling American defense and communications secrets. His most damaging betrayal was when he briefed Soviet intelligence on “Operation Ivy Bells,” a plan devised by the NSA and US Navy to intercept cable communications originating from the USSR. He worked for the NSA for 14 years and, after retiring in 1979, went to the Soviet Embassy in Washington to reveal government secrets. His lawyer argued he had betrayed his country because he was in financial trouble and in despair. At the time, he was making $24,500 a year, which is about $100,000 today, adjusted for inflation. He was captured by a KGB agent who left Moscow and reported Pelton to the FBI.
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