Espionage

Ex-CIA officer sentenced to 20 years in prison over Chinese spying conspiracy

A former CIA officer was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday for a conspiracy to send national defense information to a Chinese intelligence operative.

Kevin Patrick Mallory, 62, was charged in 2017 and convicted last June under the Espionage Act. Officials said Mallory’s actions put intelligence assets in harm’s way as China continues to try to recruit former U.S. agents.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III issued the sentence in federal court in Alexandria, Va., on Friday.

“Mallory not only put our country at great risk, but he endangered the lives of specific human assets who put their own safety at risk for our national defense,” G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement.

“As the Chinese continue to attempt to identify and recruit current and former members of the United States intelligence community, those individuals should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate security officials. This case should send a message to anyone considering violating the public’s trust and compromising our national security by disclosing classified information.”