Luke LaManna

A car was idling in front of him, and Rick cursed under his breath. This guy was taking way too long. He thought about driving around the car and into the turn lane, until he saw that another vehicle was idling in that lane. He looked over his shoulder, aiming to back up and take a different route. That's when he saw two more cars come up behind him to box his Jaguar in.

These ones had flashing red lights. In that moment, Rick Ames knew. It was over. After nine years of a high-stakes tightrope act, he'd been found out. Before he could toss his cigarette and roll up his window, men burst out of the cars and drew their guns. They held out their FBI badges and told Rick he was under arrest.

These ones had flashing red lights. In that moment, Rick Ames knew. It was over. After nine years of a high-stakes tightrope act, he'd been found out. Before he could toss his cigarette and roll up his window, men burst out of the cars and drew their guns. They held out their FBI badges and told Rick he was under arrest.

Rick would soon learn that the FBI had been tracking him since they took over his case from the CIA in 1993. President Clinton himself was following the mole hunt very closely. The FBI had proceeded slowly because they were afraid that Rick, a trained spy himself, would pause his talks with the KGB if he felt he was being investigated. So they had gathered the case on him little by little.

Rick would soon learn that the FBI had been tracking him since they took over his case from the CIA in 1993. President Clinton himself was following the mole hunt very closely. The FBI had proceeded slowly because they were afraid that Rick, a trained spy himself, would pause his talks with the KGB if he felt he was being investigated. So they had gathered the case on him little by little.

When they searched Rick's office, they found over a hundred documents about Soviet espionage that had nothing to do with his day job, which was suspicious, but not a smoking gun. After that, they tailed his car and saw him make several suspicious drives, but those hadn't given them any answers either. Their big break came in fall 1993, when they started searching Rick's home garbage cans.

When they searched Rick's office, they found over a hundred documents about Soviet espionage that had nothing to do with his day job, which was suspicious, but not a smoking gun. After that, they tailed his car and saw him make several suspicious drives, but those hadn't given them any answers either. Their big break came in fall 1993, when they started searching Rick's home garbage cans.

Analysts found a yellow post-it note in Rick's handwriting. It was written in code, but once they cracked it, the FBI understood. It was a draft of a message from Rick to the KGB. In it, he asked to meet in Colombia on October 1st. This was the team's big break. Clear evidence of a meetup with the Soviets on foreign soil.

Analysts found a yellow post-it note in Rick's handwriting. It was written in code, but once they cracked it, the FBI understood. It was a draft of a message from Rick to the KGB. In it, he asked to meet in Colombia on October 1st. This was the team's big break. Clear evidence of a meetup with the Soviets on foreign soil.

It was enough for their superiors to authorize bugging Rick's house and get a search warrant. Once the bug was in place, the FBI overheard Rick and Rosario casually planning his next KGB trips, which just confirmed what they already suspected. Now, nearly a decade after betraying the US for the first time, Rick Ames was finally arrested.

It was enough for their superiors to authorize bugging Rick's house and get a search warrant. Once the bug was in place, the FBI overheard Rick and Rosario casually planning his next KGB trips, which just confirmed what they already suspected. Now, nearly a decade after betraying the US for the first time, Rick Ames was finally arrested.

As he opened the door of his Jaguar, Rick felt like he was floating above his body. He watched himself get out of the car. He saw an FBI agent pluck the lit cigarette from his hands. The whole thing felt like it was happening in slow motion, like a dream or a movie. He heard himself tell the agents over and over, there must be some mistake. But the only one who'd made a mistake was Rick.

As he opened the door of his Jaguar, Rick felt like he was floating above his body. He watched himself get out of the car. He saw an FBI agent pluck the lit cigarette from his hands. The whole thing felt like it was happening in slow motion, like a dream or a movie. He heard himself tell the agents over and over, there must be some mistake. But the only one who'd made a mistake was Rick.

On April 28, 1994, Rick Ames pled guilty to charges of espionage and tax evasion on the $2.7 million he'd made from the KGB. Rick was given a life sentence with no parole. As of 2024, he's still alive and serving that sentence. Rosario also pled guilty for conspiring to commit espionage and tax evasion. But Rick cut a plea for Rosario.

On April 28, 1994, Rick Ames pled guilty to charges of espionage and tax evasion on the $2.7 million he'd made from the KGB. Rick was given a life sentence with no parole. As of 2024, he's still alive and serving that sentence. Rosario also pled guilty for conspiring to commit espionage and tax evasion. But Rick cut a plea for Rosario.

He promised to cooperate if she was given a lenient sentence, because someone had to take care of their five-year-old son. Rosario did five years in prison. When she was freed, she didn't go back to her lavish lifestyle. Rosario was forced to give up all of their family's assets. The money went to the Justice Department's Victims Assistance Fund.

He promised to cooperate if she was given a lenient sentence, because someone had to take care of their five-year-old son. Rosario did five years in prison. When she was freed, she didn't go back to her lavish lifestyle. Rosario was forced to give up all of their family's assets. The money went to the Justice Department's Victims Assistance Fund.

but it hardly made up for the pain that Rick had caused. Take the young Russian informant in Moscow who fed the CIA intel. Once Ames revealed his identity, the KGB sent him to a labor camp. He had been repeatedly beaten and forced to drink radioactive water. By the time he was released at age 37, his bones were brittle as an old man's and his teeth had fallen out.

but it hardly made up for the pain that Rick had caused. Take the young Russian informant in Moscow who fed the CIA intel. Once Ames revealed his identity, the KGB sent him to a labor camp. He had been repeatedly beaten and forced to drink radioactive water. By the time he was released at age 37, his bones were brittle as an old man's and his teeth had fallen out.

But he was one of the lucky ones. At least he hadn't been executed like the other ten Ames had ratted on. So, we know why Rick did what he did. Simple greed. But the question remains, how was he able to pull it off right under the CIA's nose? He was loose-lipped, an erratic drinker, and a compulsive spender. He was sloppy and overconfident. But then again, so was the CIA.