INSIDE THE THREAT

LEGAL STATUS

Sentenced to life without parole (May 10, 2002). Deceased (June 5, 2023), per FBI.¹

AS OF 2026-10-20

Case-file story

1979-11Espionage begins, per DOJ OIG²
2001-02-18Arrested and charged with espionage¹
2001-07-06Pleads guilty to 15 counts of espionage¹
2002-05-10Sentenced to life in prison without parole¹
2003-08DOJ OIG unclassified executive summary of review published (posted date Aug 1, 2003)³
2023-06-05Dies, age 79¹

The FBI calls Hanssen "the most damaging spy in Bureau history."¹
He provided highly classified information to the Russians in exchange for more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, and diamonds, using the alias "Ramon Garcia."¹
He used encrypted communications, dead drops, and other clandestine methods.¹
DOJ OIG: espionage began in November 1979, three years after he joined the FBI, and continued intermittently until his February 2001 arrest, two months before his mandatory retirement date.²
OIG: espionage spanned 1979-81, 1985-91 and 1999-2001. He compromised dozens of human sources, at least three of whom were executed.²
OIG: he was never asked to take a polygraph or complete a financial disclosure form, and had one background reinvestigation in 25 years.²
OIG: ACS had audit capability, but his improper searches went undetected because the FBI did not review audit trails absent an allegation of wrongdoing.²
OIG: his attempt to install password-breaker software was detected. He claimed it was for a color printer, and nothing was recorded in his personnel or security file.²
OIG: no performance evaluations were completed during his six years at the State Department's Office of Foreign Missions.²
The OIG review team analyzed more than 368,000 pages of material from the FBI, CIA, DOJ, NSA, and State Department.²

The FBI history page (accessed 2026-10-20) says "Hanssen's espionage activities began in 1985." DOJ OIG dates the first episode to 1979. Present both, citing each.