Luke LaManna

Ana turned on her country and her family because she had absolute faith that her actions were morally right. She was never directly paid for her work, and the Cubans only gave her a few thousand dollars to settle her diploma and buy her Toshiba laptop. For counterintelligence operatives like Scott Carmichael, catching spies is an arduous business.

But it's made all the more difficult when a person begins spying out of personal belief because there is no money trail to follow. And true believer spies offer fewer clues to their actions and are often more empowered to keep their actions a secret.

But it's made all the more difficult when a person begins spying out of personal belief because there is no money trail to follow. And true believer spies offer fewer clues to their actions and are often more empowered to keep their actions a secret.

While Anna did a very good job of concealing her double life, federal intelligence officials often repeatedly cut corners or skipped precautions entirely as she climbed the ladder of the federal intelligence community.

While Anna did a very good job of concealing her double life, federal intelligence officials often repeatedly cut corners or skipped precautions entirely as she climbed the ladder of the federal intelligence community.

When Anna began working at the DIA in 1984, the personal security division accepted the FBI's background check from five years earlier when she'd been hired at the Justice Department. This background check hadn't been updated and therefore overlooked her relationship with Marta, her secret trip to Cuba, and her use of drugs in graduate school.

When Anna began working at the DIA in 1984, the personal security division accepted the FBI's background check from five years earlier when she'd been hired at the Justice Department. This background check hadn't been updated and therefore overlooked her relationship with Marta, her secret trip to Cuba, and her use of drugs in graduate school.

The DIA granted Anna an interim top secret clearance just two days after she was hired, She was never required to take a polygraph or undergo psychological testing, as she would have at the CIA or NSA. Four months after her hiring, she was granted a top-secret SCI clearance. Suddenly, she had access to sensitive compartmentalized intelligence documents concerning U.S.

The DIA granted Anna an interim top secret clearance just two days after she was hired, She was never required to take a polygraph or undergo psychological testing, as she would have at the CIA or NSA. Four months after her hiring, she was granted a top-secret SCI clearance. Suddenly, she had access to sensitive compartmentalized intelligence documents concerning U.S.

military operations in Nicaragua and El Salvador off the back of an inadequate background check. After the Brothers to the Rescue incident, when Anna left her shift at the Pentagon early, some of her co-workers raised concerns about her actions.

military operations in Nicaragua and El Salvador off the back of an inadequate background check. After the Brothers to the Rescue incident, when Anna left her shift at the Pentagon early, some of her co-workers raised concerns about her actions.

Even after she was flagged as a potential spy, Anna's supervisors recommended her for the Exceptional Impact Promotion Program, where she was given GG-14 status. a coveted rank that came with a significant raise and more responsibility.

Even after she was flagged as a potential spy, Anna's supervisors recommended her for the Exceptional Impact Promotion Program, where she was given GG-14 status. a coveted rank that came with a significant raise and more responsibility.

The DIA, which was clearly far less rigorous in its safeguards than other intelligence agencies, finally updated its security measures after Ana's arrest to hopefully avoid similar circumstances in future. At her trial, Ana argued that the United States was too harsh toward Cuba. She said that she hoped her actions would ultimately result in the two countries moving closer together.

The DIA, which was clearly far less rigorous in its safeguards than other intelligence agencies, finally updated its security measures after Ana's arrest to hopefully avoid similar circumstances in future. At her trial, Ana argued that the United States was too harsh toward Cuba. She said that she hoped her actions would ultimately result in the two countries moving closer together.

Anna was sentenced to a 25-year maximum security prison sentence, but she did manage to avoid the death penalty. The legacy of her father's abuse and the influence of her boyfriend and friends may have pushed Ana to become disillusioned with the United States policies, but becoming a spy was entirely a decision of her own making.

Anna was sentenced to a 25-year maximum security prison sentence, but she did manage to avoid the death penalty. The legacy of her father's abuse and the influence of her boyfriend and friends may have pushed Ana to become disillusioned with the United States policies, but becoming a spy was entirely a decision of her own making.

If Ana really wanted to bring Cuba and the United States closer together, could she have been more effective as a diplomat rather than a traitor to her country? The effort required to lead two lives at once nearly gave Anna a mental breakdown. She had to lie to every single person she knew for almost 20 years. To this day, her family struggles to comprehend how she could betray them so deeply.

If Ana really wanted to bring Cuba and the United States closer together, could she have been more effective as a diplomat rather than a traitor to her country? The effort required to lead two lives at once nearly gave Anna a mental breakdown. She had to lie to every single person she knew for almost 20 years. To this day, her family struggles to comprehend how she could betray them so deeply.

Anna was released from prison on January 6th, 2023. After that, she moved to Puerto Rico, saying she hoped to live a quiet and private life. It goes without saying that her family is barely a part of it. Follow Redacted Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.